Paraguay qualified for their fourth successive World Cup finals with a 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina.
Striker Nelson Haedo scored just before the half hour to secure Paraguay’s place in South Africa next year, sending Diego Maradona’s team crashing to a third successive qualifying defeat and their fourth loss in six qualifiers.
Paraguay climbed to second in the South American group on 30 points.
Argentina, in grave danger of failing to qualify, dropped out of the top four automatic berths, their place taken by Ecuador. They occupy fifth place which would send them into a two-leg playoff against the CONCACAF’s fourth-placed team.