Tokyo, JAPAN, June 28 (Reuters) - Paraguay defeated Yugoslavia 2-0 in the opening game of the three-nation Kirin Cup on Thursday, Juan Daniel Caceres and substitute Virgilio Ferreira scoring the goals at Tokyo's National Stadium.
The South Americans took the lead against the run of play in the 39th minute, Caceres reacting quickly to poke in the loose ball after Yugoslav goalkeeper Ivica Kralj had spilled a deflected cross from Francisco Esteche.
Yugoslavia were unlucky not to go ahead in the 20th minute when Igor Bogdanovic's close-range effort forced a reflex save from Jose Luis Chilavert, and striker Petar Divic immediately flashed an overhead kick inches wide.
Although both teams fielded experimental line-ups and used the opportunity to make a number of substitutions, Paraguay played with greater composure, and could have scored at least twice before Ferreira settled the match in the 83rd minute.
Substitute Nelson Cuevas brought two excellent saves from Sasa Stevanovic, who replaced the unfortunate Kralj at the break, as Paraguay repeatedly caught Yugoslavia on the counter.
With the Yugoslavian players wilting in the humid conditions, Paraguay killed off the game thanks to another goalkeeping error.
Stevanovic flapped at a left-wing corner from Diego Gavilan, allowing Carlos Espinola to head the ball down for Ferreira to bundle it across the line at the far post.
At the other end, Bogdanovic did manage to beat Chilavert in the dying moments, only for his right-foot volley to come back off the post, summing up Yugoslavia's night.
"It was hard to break down Yugoslavia because they are very organised and play so deep. But once we scored they had to push up, which made it easier for us to play our football," said Paraguay coach Sergio Markarian.
Paraguay, currently second in the South American qualifying group for next year's World Cup, will face Kirin Cup hosts Japan at Sapporo Dome on Sunday in the second match of the round-robin competition.
Despite the defeat, Yugoslavia's joint coach Dejan Savicevic said he was looking forward to the game against Japan in Oita on July 4.
Yugoslavia's Dragan Stojkovic (C) struggles
for the ball with Paraguay's Diego Gavilan
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"This tournament is a good chance for us to test new players and to give the younger players some experience. Only three of this team play abroad at the moment," said Savicevic, who manages the national side along with Vujadin Boskov and Ivan Curkovic.
One of the overseas players, Japan-based Dragan Stojkovic, who came out of international retirement for one last hurrah in Yugoslavia's colours, lasted just 28 minutes before coming off with a sore hamstring.
"There's no point crying about tonight's game. I thought we were a bit unlucky, but we'll just have to play better against Japan," said Stojkovic, who has played for J-League club Nagoya Grampus Eight for the past seven years.
Scorers: Juan Daniel Caceres 39, Virgilio Ferreira 83
Halftime: 1-0 Attendance: 21,213
Referee: Masayoshi Okada (Japan).
PARAGUAY: 1-Jose Luis Chilavert; 2-Nestor Isasi (15-Nelson Zelaya 86), 3-Juan Daniel Caceres, 21-Denis Caniza, 5-Daniel Sanabria, 8-Francisco Esteche (19-Carlos Espinola 73), 16-Julio Cesar Enciso, 6-Gustavo Morinigo (4-Alfredo Amarilla 80), 18-Edgar Robles (17-Nelson Cuevas 58), 20-Diego Gavilan, 9-Miguel Caceres (10-Virgilio Ferreira 58).
YUGOSLAVIA: 1-Ivica Kralj (12-Sasa Stevanovic 46); 6-Boban Dmitrovic (15-Aleksandar Zivkovic 65), 2-Vuk Rasovic, 13-Dusan Petkovic, 16-Sasa Zoric, 14-Milivoje Cirkovic (9-Petar Divic 46), 3-Dejan Ognjanovic (5-Milan Dudic), 10-Dragan Stojkovic (7-Radovan Krivokapic 28), 18-Damir Cakar, 8-Goran Trobok 4-Dejan Radenovic 82), 11-Igor Bogdanovic.
