Paraguay Get Past Colombia in RWC Qualifier

Paraguay got past Colombia in a Rugby World Cup Qualifier this afternoon. The home side ran out 39-27 winners to book their spot in the 2017 South American A Championship. The competition will double as World Cup Qualification and will involve Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

In order to earn the win, the Paraguayans were forced into playing some impressive rugby. Colombia started the match as the better team. With a quarter of the game gone Los Tucanes were leading 12-6. They did so on the back of effective goal kicking from fullback José Diosa.

Paraguay hit back by using its backline effectively. Fullback Rodrigo Da Rosa, Emilio Gorostiaga and Héctor Gayoso each went over for a try. All three were impressive in their own rights and involved Paraguay running the ball from deep.

Starting the second half with a 27-12 advantage Los Yakarés were on course for victory. Colombia, though, found their way back into the game. At one point it was 32-22 with Paraguay pressing for further points. Paraguay then scored against the run of play to secure the win. A late consolation try brought an end to the match.

 

SCORING

PARAGUAY 39
Tries – R. Da Rosa (29’), E. Gorostiaga (31’), H. Gayoso (40’), A. Nasser (53’), P. Espinola (73’)
Cons – H. Gayoso 4 (30’, 32’, 40’, 74’)
Pens – H. Gayoso 2 (10’, 23’)
Yellow cards – C. Plate (76’)

COLOMBIA 27
Tries – A. Arango (49’), J. Álvarez (67’), A. Vanegas (77’)
Pens – J. Diosa 3 (4’, 12’, 16’)
Drop goals – J. Diosa (8’)

 

TEAMS

PARAGUAY
1 Emilio Gorostiaga (16 Martín Sitjar 63’), 2 Juan Gavigan (17 Juan Gómez 63’), 3 Álvaro Rojas (18 Joaquín Vera 63’), 4 Alejandro Montiel (19 Carlos Plate 50’), 5 Andrés Nasser, 6 Marcos Riquelme, 7 Martín Ortiz (20 Horacio Ocampos 50’), 8 Máximo Gómez, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 10 Gerard Cuttier, 11 Héctor Gayoso, 12 Carlos Bareiro (22 Pablo Espinola 63’), 13 Sebastián Urbieta (21 Gastón Navas 72’), 14 Diego Argaña, 15 Rodrigo Da Rosa (23 Sergio Alvarenga 48’)

COLOMBIA
1 Jaider Pemberthy (17 Mauricio Espinal 35’), 2 Manuel Correa (16 Jorge Álvarez 44’), 3 Andrés Arango (19 Héctor Navarro 63’), 4 André Quintero (23 Johan Larrota 55’), 5 Jhon Álvarez (20 Danny Giraldo 44’), 6 Gerson Ortiz, 7 Santiago Mejía (21 Alejandro Vanegas HT), 8 Sebastián Mejía, 9 Oscar Forero (18 Julian Navarro 70’), 10 Emmanuel Bedoya, 11 Maicol Machado, 12 Camilo Cadavid (22 Cristian Rodallegas 70’), 13 Pablo Lemoine, 14 Brayan Campiño, 15 José Diosa

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Joaquín Montes (URU)
Assistants: Ricardo Sant’Anna (CBRu) & Mauricio Escalante (UAR)