Uzbekistan, who opened their campaign with a 3-3 draw against the Netherlands, will now need to win their final game against Costa Rica to stand a chance of extending their stay in the tournament.
Uzbekistan sped out of the blocks, with Ikhtiyor Ropiev shooting over the bar before Akbar Usmonov fired wide from just outside the arc, as Paraguay absorbed the early pressure.
Paraguay threatened in the third minute but Arnaldo Baez’s dangerous ball into the area was quickly cleared by Ilhomjon Hamroev before Uzbekistan were bombarded with shots.
Baez tried his luck from distance in the sixth minute but his effort was off the mark before having another go at goal moments later with his shot just missing the right post.
Uzbekistan stayed calm under pressure as Adolfo Salas forced a fingertip save from Abbos Elmurodov a minute later before Paraguay came close when Emerson Mendez flashed his effort from close range wide
Paraguay finally breached the Uzbekistan defence in the 16th minute after a lapse in concentration allowed Jorge Espinoza to finish Salas’ set-up with a tap in.
The South American side doubled their lead a minute later with a carbon copy finish of the first goal, this time through Baez.The South American side doubled their lead a minute later with a carbon copy finish of the first goal, this time through Baez.
Uzbekistan should have reduced the deficit with two minutes left in the half but Paraguay keeper Giovanni Gonzalez did just enough to foil Ropiev’s flick from close range.
Uzbekistan started the second half with renewed purpose and were unlucky not to find the back of the net when Khusniddin Nishonov struck the bar following a swift counter-attacking move in the 21st minute.
The miss proved costly for the hosts as Paraguay stretched their lead two minutes later through Hugo Martinez’s curling effort from above the arc before Salah capitalised on a defensive error by finishing with a deft lob over Elmurodov in the 26th minute.
With five minutes left in the game, Uzbekistan activated the power play with Ropiev setting up Nishonov at the near post for a consolation.
