Paraguay's 'La Albirroja' have smashed Colombia 5-0 in their Copa América 2007 Group C match in Maracaibo on Thursday, with Roque Santa Cruz scoring a hat-trick for Ecuador and substitute Salvador Cabañas scoring two goals to seal an emphatic win over Colombia's 'Los Cafeteros'.

Two shots from from Club de Fútbol Monterrey striker 21-year-old Hugo Rodallega forced good saves from Paraguay keeper Justo Villar, with Edixon Perea also shooting wide.

Christian Riveros gave a penalty away for Colombia in the 25th minute, with Álvaro Dominguez stepping up to take the spot-kick, but Villar saving well to deny Dominguez.

Just minutes later, Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz opened the scoring, against the run-of-play, after breaking the Colombia off-side trap and only having the Colombia keeper Villar to beat.

Paraguay took their slender 1-0 lead into half-time, with Colombia, despite being the team in command, having to find a way through the solid Paraguay defence.

The second-half was one-way traffic from Paraguay, with Bayern Munich star striker Roque Santa Cruz proving his worth, doubling the score within seconds of the second-half whistle, with Santa Cruz sealing his hat-trick with a sensational side-footed shot in the 80th minute with a header at the far post.

Colombia were really feeling the pressure now, with Paraguay running riot over their Group C rivals.

The fourth goal was the pick of the match, with substitute Salvador Cabañas smashing home from the edge of the penalty area, and sealing a brace for himself, and Paraguay’s fifth with just two minutes to play, breaking free to shoot past Villar to seal a memorable 5-0 win over their South American counterparts.
Teamsheets for Paraguay v Colombia In their opening Copa América 2007 Group C Match:

Paraguay team: Justo Villar, Julio César Cáceres, Da Silva, Dario Verón, (Edgar Barreto, Carlos Bonet, Christian Riveros, Jonathan Santana (Enrique Daniel Vera, 79), Aureliano Torres, Oscar Rene Cardozo (Salvador Cabañas, 70), Roque Santa Cruz (Dante López, 84).

Paraguay Substitutes Not Used: Aldo Antonio Bobadilla, Joel Fernando Zayas, Julio César Manzur, Julio Daniel Dos Santos, Edgar Daniel González, José Domingo Salcedo, Aureliano Torres, Nelson Cuevas.

Colombia team: Miguel Angel Calero, Javier Eduardo Arizala (Vladimir Marín, 63), Iván Ramiro Córdoba, Gerardo Vallejo, Mario Yepes, Álvaro Domínguez (Macnelly Torres, 56), David Arturo Ferreira, Fabián Andrés Vargas, John Edwis Viáfara, Edixon Perea, Hugo Rodallega (Luis Gabriel Rey, 76).

Colombia Substitutes Not Used: Robinson Zapata, Jair Benítez, Luis Amaranto Perea, Jorge Eliecer Banguero, Jaime Alberto Castrillón, Andrés Chitiva, Camilo Zúñiga, César Augusto Valoyes.

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