Colombian Striker Faustino Asprilla (right) passes the ball through the Ecuador's Carabali (centre) and Msanchez during their World Cup Qualifying match in Barranquilla, Colombia. PARIS, July 21: Argentina went top of the South American World cup qualifying group yesterday when they scored a 2-0 victory at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires over no-hopers Venezuela while previous pacestters Paraguay came unstuck when they were beaten 2-1 by Chile in Santiago.Hernan Crespo opened the scoring for the 1978 and 1986 World champions after half-an-hour and second-half substitute Pablo Paz put the issue beyond doubt in the 60th minute scoring Argentina's second goal with almost his first touch of the ball and just three minutes after coming on to replace Roberto Ayala.Yesterday's win, in front of 60,000 fans, left Argentina breathing easy with 25 points, from 13 matches and they are now all but ensured qualification to next year's finals in France.Argentina have three more matches to play-the first away to Chile on August 10, then home matches against Uruguay on October 12 and Colombia on November 16 while Venezuela, still looking for a first win, are rooted at the bottom of the group with just three points after 10 defeats and three draws.Chile's Captain and the competition's top-scorer Ivan Zamorano was again his country's hero when he scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Paraguay.The home side went clear after just nine minutes when Zamorano slotted home from the spot and he then made it 2-0 in the 56th minute with his 12th goal of the campaign.Paraguay pulled one back thorugh Brizuela on the four but their effort came too late. The win left Chile in fourth place with 19 points from 12 matches.Colombia stayed in third place on 21 points when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in Barranguilla second half substitute Anthony de Avila producing the winner with just three minutes left to play.But Bolivia moved up the fringe of the top four qualifying places when they beat Uruguay 1-0 in La Paz a superbly-struck 75th minutes Marco Antonio Etcheverry free-kick earning Bolivia maximum points.But while Bolivia, with 17 points from 12 outings, kept their hopes of reaching France alive, uruguay have now all but lost their chance of going any further in the competition.
