In a goalless day of the 2011 Copa America, Paraguay ties with Ecuador by 0-0

In a game without many scoring chances, Paraguay failed to break the blockade and not opened the score of the Group B in the 2011 Copa America. The group

, which also has Brazil and Venezuela, are tightly drawn: all teams have a point, and none scored a goal.

As the 2011 Copa America has been predominant in the surprises, one more: only 58 years ago there were two matches ended in 0-0 for the competition. The last time this happened was in 1953, when Paraguay tied with the same score against Ecuador, Peru and Chile faced also with no luck. This edition recalls fond memories for Paraguay, who won the first title after beating Brazil (3-2) in the final.

The game against Ecuador, on this Sunday evening, in Salta, did not have many chances. In the first half, after fine play of Lucas Barrios, Barreto kicked and forced the Ecuadorian goalkeeper - the oldest player in the competition - to make a good save. Then, another Paraguayan attack and Ortigoza finished and obligated a fine save from the Ecuadorian goalkeeper.

In the best chance of the game, Benitez dribbled the Paraguayan goalkeeper, and with the open goal, he was caught by the Paraguayan defense. Ecuador came once again in a long shot of Castillo. The second half was well played, with Paraguay better in the match, but only threatened Ecuador once, on a beautiful header of Roque Santa Cruz, that had an even more beautiful save of goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga.

Paraguay dominated the match but failed to make the few scoring chances created. Paraguay faces Brazil in the next round, Saturday (9). Ecuador confronts Venezuela in search of victory, in Salta, on Sunday.

PARAGUAY 0 X 0 ECUADOR

Stadium: Stadium Cementerio de Elefantes, Santa Fe, Argentina; Referee: Sergio Pezzotta (ARG); Yellow Card: Pablo Zeballos (89’) (Paraguay)

PARAGUAY: 1-Justo Villar, 3-Iván Piris, 14-Paulo da Silva, 2-Darío Verón, 17-Aureliano Torres, 8-Édgar Barreto (13-Enrique Vera, 37’), 16-Cristian Riveros, 20-Néstor Ortigoza, 21-Marcelo Estigarribia, 19-Lucas Barrios (18-Haedo Valdez, 73’) and 9-Roque Santa Cruz (7-Pablo Zeballos, 83’). Coach: Gerardo Martino.

ECUADOR: 1-Marcelo Elizaga, 13-Néicer Reasco, 19-Norberto Araujo, 3-Frickson Erazo, 10-Wálter Ayoví, 14-Segundo Castillo, 6-Cristian Noboa, 16-Antonio Valencia (7-Michael Arroyo, 46’), 8-Edison Méndez (15-David Quiroz, 81’), 11-Cristian Benítez and 9-Felipe Caicedo. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.
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