Match ends, Argentina 2, Paraguay 2.
Argentina 2-2 Paraguay
- From the section Football
Paraguay fought back from two goals down to deny Argentina victory in their opening game of the Copa America.
Argentina, runners-up at the 2014 World Cup, raced ahead in the first half as Manchester City's Sergio Aguero slotted in before Barcelona's Lionel Messi converted a penalty.
Paraguay fought back after the break, Nelson Valdez halving the deficit with a long-distance shot.
Lucas Barrios then drove in late on to snatch a point.
The result means Argentina and Paraguay are level on one point in Group B, two points behind defending champions Uruguay, who beat Jamaica 1-0.
It was a stunning response by Paraguay, who had little answer to Argentina's relentless attacks in the first half.
Argentina have not won the Copa America in 23 years but, after reaching last year's World Cup final where they lost to Germany, they are considered one of the favourites this year.
Initially, at least, it was clear to see why.
After attempts by Messi and his Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano, it was Aguero - who scored 32 goals last season - who opened the scoring. The striker displayed his predatory instincts to pounce on a poor backpass by Paraguay defender Miguel Samudio before rolling the ball home.
Paraguay barely had time to recover from that before Argentina added a second. This time Messi stepped up to convert from the spot after Manchester United's Angel Di Maria had been fouled in the box.
It seemed as though Argentina were coasting towards victory, especially when Messi almost grabbed a third only to be denied by the legs of the Paraguay keeper.
Paraguay were given hope, though, when out of nothing Valdez pulled a goal back, his 25-yard, swerving strike catching out Sergio Romero in the Argentina goal.
That sparked Paraguay into life, while Argentina looked increasingly rattled as the game wore on, Samudio getting sight of goal but denied by Romero.
It looked as though Argentina had done enough, however, until Paulo Da Silva was allowed to nod down a high ball into the box in stoppage time for the unmarked Barrios to despatch a low shot into the net and earn his side a dramatic point.
Line-ups
Argentina
- 1Romero
- 3RoncagliaBooked at 41mins
- 2Garay
- 17OtamendiBooked at 83mins
- 16Rojo
- 21PastoreSubstituted forTévezat 75'minutes
- 14Mascherano
- 19BanegaSubstituted forBigliaat 80'minutes
- 10Messi
- 11AgüeroSubstituted forHiguaínat 76'minutes
- 7Di María
Substitutes
- 4Zabaleta
- 5Gago
- 6Biglia
- 8Pereyra
- 9Higuaín
- 12Guzmán
- 13Casco
- 15Demichelis
- 18Tévez
- 20Lamela
- 22Lavezzi
- 23Andújar
Paraguay
- 12Silva
- 3Cáceres
- 14Da Silva
- 4AguilarBooked at 24mins
- 6Samudio
- 7BobadillaSubstituted forBenítezat 66'minutes
- 20Ortigoza
- 15CáceresBooked at 74mins
- 13OrtízBooked at 39minsSubstituted forGonzálezat 45'minutesBooked at 48mins
- 18Valdez
- 9Santa CruzSubstituted forBarrios Caceresat 79'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Villar
- 2Piris
- 5Valdez
- 8Barrios Caceres
- 10González
- 11Benítez
- 16Molinas
- 17Martínez
- 19Balbuena
- 21Romero
- 22Aranda
- 23Aguilar
- Referee:
- Wilmar Roldán
- Attendance:
- 16,281
Match Stats
Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamParaguay
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Paraguay 2.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Miguel Samudio (Paraguay).
Attempt missed. Carlos Tévez (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
Offside, Paraguay. Néstor Ortigoza tries a through ball, but Édgar Benítez is caught offside.
Booking
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Argentina 2, Paraguay 2. Lucas Barrios (Paraguay) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paulo Da Silva with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Foul by Lucas Biglia (Argentina).
Victor Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Victor Cáceres (Paraguay) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Néstor Ortigoza following a set piece situation.
Foul by Ezequiel Garay (Argentina).
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Miguel Samudio (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Victor Cáceres.
Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).
Nelson Valdez (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Javier Mascherano (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lucas Barrios (Paraguay).
Booking
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).
Lucas Barrios (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Hand ball by Marcos Rojo (Argentina).
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Lucas Biglia replaces Éver Banega.
Attempt missed. Marcos Rojo (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Paraguay. Lucas Barrios replaces Roque Santa Cruz.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Antony Silva.
Attempt saved. Ángel Di María (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carlos Tévez.
Attempt missed. Paulo Da Silva (Paraguay) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Édgar Benítez with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Sergio Romero.
Attempt saved. Miguel Samudio (Paraguay) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Roque Santa Cruz.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Gonzalo Higuaín replaces Sergio Agüero.
Substitution
Substitution, Argentina. Carlos Tévez replaces Javier Pastore.
Javier Pastore (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Victor Cáceres (Paraguay).
Attempt blocked. Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Derlis González.
Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Pablo Aguilar.
Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Éver Banega.
Attempt missed. Nelson Valdez (Paraguay) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Derlis González with a cross.
Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Facundo Roncaglia.
Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
