Mexico and Paraguay faced off in Group D of the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey and it was the South Americans who came out on top with a 1-0 win.
In the first half Mexico had the better of the chances, but were unable to properly test Diego Morel in the Paraguay goal.
Only a wonderful strike from Derlis Gonzalez midway through the second half could separate the sides, with Paraguay claiming the three points.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me this afternoon for more action from the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. Today we have Group D for you - Mexico against Paraguay.
The groups are beginning to take shape and surprisingly in this one Mexico are bottom after their defeat to Greece. El Tri were expected to get through their group comfortably and while there is still time must improve quickly - starting today.
Of course they still have two game to turn it around, but defeat for them today and a Greece win against Mali would make it very tough for them to finish in the top two automatic qualification spots. Otherwise they would have to hope a win in their final game would put them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
A win for Paraguay would give them a great chance of making the top two. Certainly they'd need to beat either Mexico or Greece - and will be the underdogs in both encounters, in truth.
Let's get to the teams then, shall we?
MEXICO XI: Sanchez; Marin, Briseno, Hernandez, Zamorano; Espericueta, Gonzalez, Abella, Van Rankin; Bueno, Corona
PARAGUAY XI: Morel; Mareco, Paredes, Gomez, Ramirez; Alonso, Piris Da Motta, Almiron, Rojas; Gonzalez, Dominguez
So after the shock of their opening round defeat, can Mexico recover to qualify as they were expected to? They simply have to improve. The players are starting to come out now, so we're not too far away from kickoff.
Marco Bueno, up front, was wasteful on many occasions in the last game, but he's been given another chance to impress. If he doesn't this time, I would expect him to be swiftly dropped against Mali.
Wow, the Mexican anthem is long. They're certainly playing all the verses.
Anthems done. Let's play some football! It's another absolutely immaculate playing surface, but again it's being played in front of no-one at all. It's a shame, because some of the football has been pretty good.
Piris for Paraguay is a yellow away from a booking. As is Lucena, but he's dropped to the bench.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. I'm certainly looking forward to some technical football today.
Not a good start. Zamorano under a little pressure, puts it straight out of play, but Paraguay cannot do anything from the throw. A back-pass has been given here as Briseno's touch is picked up by Sanchez. Don't see many of these indirect free kicks in the box - how exciting.
The shaving foam has been drawn basically on the goalline as Paraguay line this up and Jorge Rojas smashes it after the touch but clears the bar.
Still Paraguay are on top of this. They have another free kick, which Rojas swings in right into the danger area. It needs just a touch from red or green, but avoids everyone and goes out of play. Fantastic delivery - and it was a Mexico boot closest to turning it in. Now Mexico give away a cheap corner - they look awful right now.
Mexico break with pace. Espericueta finds Jesus Corona, but the forward loses out as he tried to turn just outside the box. That's the first hint we've seen of a threat from Mexico. Old fashioned defending from Teodoro Paredes, who hammers it into touch.
Half-chance for Armando Zamorano. He had more time than he thought there, and his left-footed effort on the turn and from an angle is well off target. At the other end the first goalkeeper tested is Sanchez, who holds comfortably from a Robin Ramirez effort outside the box.
Paraguay break at pace, with Almiron finding Rojas to his right, but the cross is far too close to Sanchez and is easily gathered. Here come Mexico through Zamorano down the right, but he's outmuscled by Gomez.
Marin beats Rojas to the ball, and then wins the goal kick off the PAraguay winger - good defensive work. No real chances as yet, but both sides have settled and there's some decent passing now.
A big sluggish there from Corona, who is tackled by a couple of Paraguayans and they look to break. The ball over the top from Piris is gathered by Mexico, however.
Paraguay are still looking most comfortable on the ball at the moment and are keeping it nicely in the middle. That is until Mareco gives it away. Mexico come again but there's a clear lack of cohesion between midfield and attack for them.
CHANCE! First real sight of goal there for Zamorano. A shot is deflected to him, but his strike comes back off the post then out of play off the leg of Morel in goal. Very close!
BOOKING: Gonzalez is booked for a nasty tackle. He flies in, initially, high, but tucks his studs under in time for contact. Awful challenge, fair booking.
Since that chance Mexico have seen a lot more of the ball and are finding quite a few pockets of space around the Paraguay box.
We've entered a patch of play with several niggly free kicks at the moment. There has been some lively play at both ends, but a bit too many midfield stoppages.
Gonzalez strikes a shot from an angle on the left. It catches the faintest of touches for a corner - he's fortunate really. It's fizzed in but misses everyone in the danger area and goes for a goal kick. With just over 15 minutes of the half left, a goal at the moment is looking unlikely.
A bit of dodgy defending there From Ramirez, who chests the ball behind instead of heading it. Another corner for Mexico.
There's still a bite to the game, which is good to see, but it's taking away a little from the quality of the players on display. Paraguay are about on top at the moment, but chances are too few and far between from both.
The atmosphere really isn't helping this game. It's already not that great, but being able to hear the players adds a real training game feel to it. It's fair to say both sides are cancelling each other out.
Much of the play is in the Mexico half at the moment. Marin tries an angled ball to Corona, but it's too easy for Gomez to cut out and head back to Morel.
BOOKING: Paraguay's Ramirez goes into the book for a lunge on Bueno, as the striker looked to bring it down and dribble. The free kick comes in but it's headed away and Paraguay break. Rojas down the right looks for Almiron, but Mexico are able to deal with the pass.
A really good chance there as Paraguay broke. Almiron is played in a little short and Briseno flies in with a really hard challenge, but a fair one, to win the ball.
CLOSE! Bueno is so close to the opening goal. Really neat passing finds him just inside the box, but as he goes for the bottom corner a touch from a defender just puts it wide of goal for a corner.
HALF-TIME: Mexico 0-0 Paraguay
So the half comes to an end. It hasn't been awful, but then again 0-0 is probably about the right score at the moment. Mexico have created just the better chances, but Paraguay have been far from out of it. It can certainly improve.
As it stands, the draw does very little to help either side. It's better for Paraguay just about, but wins are needed to get these teams into the driving seat of Group D. I expect a lot more from Mexico, but can they start to show it?
Really Paraguay have created little to trouble Sanchez in the Mexico goal. They couldn't take advantage of some very nervous early defending and Rojas blazed an indirect free kick over the bar after a backpass. It wasn't something you see every day, and filled me with hope, but what followed did disappoint somewhat.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Jesus Escoboza comes on for Corona at the break. For Paraguay, Arnaldo Sanabria comes on for Dominguez.
If it was possible, the crowd sound even more subdued in this half. The first piece of defending in the half is for Mexico, with skipper Briseno getting in well to put a through ball behind for a corner. It's Paraguay's third and they make a mess of it initally, but Alonso has a second effort at a cross and this time Sanabria runs it out of play.
KICKOFF: We're back underway for the second period. Can the subs have a say?
If it was possible, the crowd sound even more subdued in this half. The first piece of defending in the half is for Mexico, with skipper Briseno getting in well to put a through ball behind for a corner. It's Paraguay's third and they make a mess of it initally, but Alonso has a second effort at a cross and this time Sanabria runs it out of play.
What a strike that is! Gonzales from a really tight angle wraps his foot around the ball to curl it right into the far top corner. Great pass from Sanabria across to him as well. Superb stuff.
GOAL! Mexico 0-1 Paraguay (Gonzalez)
What a strike that is! Gonzales from a really tight angle wraps his foot around the ball to curl it right into the far top corner. Great pass from Sanabria across to him as well. Superb stuff.
Suddenly there's a sense of urgency from Mexico as they win a corner, but it's headed away - just as most of their crosses have been. Paraguay break but the ball bounces awkwardly for Gonzalez and Sanchez gathers.
OFF THE POST! Paraguay are so close to going two ahead! They counter through the right and it's Gonzalez again with the chance, but his low strike hits the post, goes across the line and stays out!
MEXICO SUB: Raul Lopez is on for Zamorano and Madrigal on for Gonzalez as a free kick is deflected for a corner.
OFF THE POST! Paraguay are so close to going two ahead! They counter through the right and it's Gonzalez again with the chance, but his low strike hits the post, goes across the line and stays out!
Couple of snap-shots from around the box for MExico, but they've really struggled to create chances. Van Rankin is booked for stopping a Paraguay break.
It's getting a little shirty there in the middle there as Mexico start to look desperate. Paraguay are pressing with enthusiasm now, which explains there niggly fouls.
Very dangerous break there for Paraguay but Rojas, who had burst down the right, either goes for goal or it's just an awful cross. He had two waiting - what a waste. Gonzalez for Paraguay is booked for bringing down Escoboza from behind.
PARAGUAY SUB: Almiron, who has worked very hard indeed tonight, makes way for Matias Perez.
Couple of snap-shots from around the box for Mexico, but they've really struggled to create chances. Van Rankin is booked for stopping a Paraguay break.
Paraguay so close to carving another chance. It's Gonzalez and Sanabria combining again, before a flailing Mexico tackle just stops the former from pulling the trigger.
CHANCE! The Mexican striker are just so static up there and Paraguay break. Rojas is just outside the box and he clips an effort a matter of centimetres over the bar. He probably should have scored, but it's just over.
It's looking much more likely that we'll have another Paraguay goal than a Mexico equaliser. It would leave the Mexicans with a huge task to qualify.
Paraguay are now playing the slow game here, taking their time over throws and goal kicks. Mexico are fair sprinting everywhere to try to create the chance or two they need. It really doesn't seem likely, but with 10 minutes left there's still time for at least one goal.
Mexico are just starting to peg Paraguay back slightly, but they are still crossing into the box from all angles. The South American centre-backs have lapped those up all afternoon.
PARAGUAY SUB: They make their final change here, and Gonzalez is in no rush to come off. Jorge Balbuena comes on for the potential matchwinner.
Paraguay are starting to get a bit visibly nervous, but fortunately for them at the moment Mexico cannot capitalise. Bueno shoots from outside the box but just down the throat of Morel.
A late crossfield ball towards Escoboza is miscontrolled by the winger and that could potentially have been their last foray forward. They don't deserve to equalise.
Very late free kick here as there's an arm up from Perez. It's 20 yards out...
OFF THE BAR! So close for Espericueta! The keeper is rooted to the spot and the ball rattles back off the bar. It just didn't come down quite enough.
FULL-TIME: Mexico 0-1 Paraguay
So it's uphill now for Mexico. They remain bottom with no points, and will have to rely on a win being enough to put them through in third place. It seems very unlikely.
Thanks for joining me for this one. That's all we have time for, but do stick around on site for the latest news and reaction. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
