The No. 1 Unofficial World Cup Website
LAST 16 REVIEW
GERMANY 1-0 PARAGUAY
GERMANY stumbled into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a tight 1-0 victory over Paraguay, in a match that neither side deserved or seemingly wanted to win.
The winning goal came two minutes from time, when Bernd Schneider got round the back of the Paraguayan defence and delivered a superb cross for Oliver Neuville to hammer home a half-volley at the near post.
The tournament's top scorer, Miroslav Klose, was well shackled throughout by the uncompromising Paraguayan defence, while Paraguay's eccentric 'keeper Jose Luis Chilavert came forward an struck a free-kick from 25 yards, which flew over Oliver Kahn's bar.
Paraguay's long ball tactics suffered when lanky striker Roque Santa Cruz hobbled off in the first half, although they could have scored in the first half through Celso Ayala, if he wastefully hadn't blasted over the bar from eight yards.
The introduction of striker Nelson Cuevas in injury-time did liven things up, but by then it was too little, far too late.
Paraguay's misery was completed when midfielder Roberto Acuna was sent-off in injury-time for an off-the-ball elbow on Michael Ballack.