Brazil leads qualifying, Argentina defeated

06-12-2009 | AFP

The four top teams advance to the 2010 football showdown in South Africa

Panama Star RECIFE, BRAZIL. Robinho scored in the 40th minute and Nilmar netted the winner in the 49th as Brazil seized sole possession of first place in South American 2010 World Cup qualifying by beating Paraguay 2-1.

Paraguay shared the qualifying table lead with Brazil entering Wednesday's showdown and grabbed a 1-0 in the 25th minute on an own goal by Brazil's Elano before the five-time World Cup champions battled back for the victory.

Ecuador upset Argentina 2-0, Chile rose to second in the table with a 4-0 romp over Bolivia, Venezuela and Uruguay played to a 2-2 draw and Colombia blanked qualified doormat Peru 1-0.

The results left Brazil (7-1 with six drawn) atop the table on 27 points, one more than Chile (8-4 with two drawn) and three ahead of Paraguay (7-4 with three drawn) after the 14th of 18 rounds of matches.

Despite the defeat, Argentina (6-4-4) held onto the fourth and final guaranteed World Cup qualifying spot on 22 points, two points ahead of Ecuador (5-4 with five drawn) and four atop Uruguay (4-4 with six drawn).

The four top teams advance to next year's World Cup. The fifth-place finisher faces a playoff against the fourth-place team from North American qualifying to decide a World Cup 2010 berth.