Paredes, who plays for Mexico’s Atlante, was called into coach Jorge Sampaoli’s squad after Alexis Sanchez’s suspension on Friday and with Humberto Suazo having made himself unavailable due to poor form.

Paredes grabbed his chance with both hands, latching onto a rebound off defender Matias Aguirregaray to score Chile’s first with a low shot after 10 minutes, with fellow striker Eduardo Vargas sealing the win in the 77th minute at the Estadio Nacional.

The decisive victory ensured Chile leapfrogged Uruguay into one of the South American qualifying berths, while pushing the Copa America holders out of the top five.

The top four at the end of qualifying go straight through to the 2014 finals in Brazil, with the fifth-placed team meeting an Asian side in a playoff.

Chile started in good shape and attacked Uruguay on the left through winger Jean Beausejour, whose early cross set up Paredes’ goal.

Paredes had another good chance in 19th minute when he dribbled past a defender but his shot was just wide.

Uruguay’s world class strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani were short of chances in the first half, the midfielders finding little space to create.

The visitors lifted their attack after the break but lacked ideas to intimidate and their opponents held firm in defence, barring a fierce long-range shot from defender Alejandro Silva that shook the bar in the 70th minute.

Vargas put the result beyond doubt for Chile seven minutes later when he swooped on a rebound from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and found the net to put the home side a step closer to Brazil.

(Editing by Rex Gowar and Ian Ransom)

Argentina weathered an early storm at the Estadio Nacional before Messi broke into the box, sidestepped a defender and beat goalkeeper Miguel Pinto in the 28th minute.

Three minutes later Higuain came into the box, rounded two defenders and curled a left-foot shot into Pinto’s far corner.

Felipe Gutierrez pulled a goal back for the home side in added time.

Argentina are three points ahead of second-placed Ecuador with 20 points from nine matches, with Messi and Higuain joint top scorers with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez on seven.

“We faced a team who always create problems for whatever side team they come up against. In the first half, there were more chances for both sides,” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella told reporters.

Argentina had to weather an early storm, with Chile forward Sebastian Pinto missing two chances in five minutes.

Alexis Sanchez and Mauricio Isla, who played together at Udinese, combined well to cause Pablo Zabaleta problems at left back, and Mark Gonzalez missed another chance for Chile in the 15th minute when his header was deflected away by goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

WASTED CHANCES

Argentina threatened for the first time in the 18th minute when Higuain stole the ball from Gonzalo Jara and his shot was saved by Pinto.

Ten minutes later, Messi received a long pass from midfielder Fernando Gago, evaded a defender and put Argentina 1-0 up with his first shot on goal.

Three minutes later, Higuain took a cross-field pass from Angel Di Maria, eluded two defenders and doubled the visitors’ lead with a class finish.

Striker Sergio Aguero shook the Chile post in the 44th minute after another Jara mistake and a few seconds later Higuain missed with a fierce shot.

Chile goalkeeper Pinto kept the score at 2-0 by stopping a delightful lob from Di Maria on the stroke of half-time.

The home side started the second half brightly but were again wasteful in front of goal, forward Pinto squandering a chance in the 54th minute and seconds later he was replaced by Eduardo Vargas.

Pinto came to Chile’s rescue in the 68th minute, saving a Messi shot after Argentina broke quickly, but the home side could not take their chances at the other end with midfielder Matias Fernandez and Vargas missing late on.

Chile finally found the net in stoppage time but it was too late to change the outcome of the match. (Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires; editing by Peter Rutherford)

Argentina, rampant at home and leaders with 17 points from eight matches at the halfway stage in the nine-nation group, have managed one win in three away games before facing Chile in Santiago (8.05 p.m. EDT Wednesday).

Ecuador, a point behind, will be looking for a first away win against Venezuela at Puerto La Cruz (2200) after taking all but one of their 16 points at home, benefiting from the thin air of Quito at 2,800 meters that troubles teams coming in from sea level.

Colombia, also on 16 points and in second place on goal difference, are the best away team with wins in Peru and Chile but they have a bye and will not play another qualifier until March.

Both Argentina and Ecuador need to address their away form as they will play five times on the road in their remaining eight matches.

Coach Alejandro Sabella’s Argentina, who made a weak start to the qualifiers including a shock defeat in Venezuela, are improving led by Lionel Messi who scored twice in the 3-0 home victory over Uruguay on Friday.

But they played poorly and were lucky to take a point in a 1-1 draw in their last away match in Peru.

“Chile will be tough rivals. They need to win and climb positions to qualify for the World Cup,” Messi said.

The Chileans are fifth, level on 12 points with Uruguay, and against Argentina they will be without defender Pablo Contreras and midfielder Arturo Vidal who were sent off on Friday and left back Osvaldo Gonzalez who was booked.

Ecuador, who drew 1-1 in Uruguay last month, are well aware that dropping points away from home can damage their chances of reaching the finals for the third time since 2002.

“Thinking of just not losing the game would be mediocre. We work to win in any stadium,” defender Frickson Erazo told reporters after the win over Chile.

“We know Venezuela is a very important game. They have evolved and can qualify for the World Cup too. We must show that we’re a strong team not only in Quito,” captain Walter Ayovi said.

VALENCIA RETURNS

Ecuador will be without suspended striker Felipe Caicedo, whose two goals against Chile took his tally to four, but winger Antonio Valencia returns.

Venezuela, who had a bye on Friday, are in sixth place with 11 points, one below the playoff berth. The top four will qualify for the 2014 finals in Brazil and the fifth will meet an Asian team for another berth.

Uruguay, well short of the form that took them to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals in South Africa and victory in last year’s Copa America, need to improve after taking one point in the last three matches.

They face Bolivia in La Paz (2000) having to cope with the nearly 4,000 meters altitude and the suspensions of defenders Diego Lugano, Diego Godin and Maxi Pereira, who were booked against Argentina. They do, however, welcome back Alvaro Pereira.

It is a good chance for eighth-placed Bolivia, who have four points, to make home advantage count, which they have not with only one win in four matches in La Paz.

Seventh-placed Peru, who have eight points after holding Bolivia 1-1 in La Paz on Friday, visit bottom team Paraguay in Asuncion (2200).

Uruguayan Gerardo Pelusso, Paraguay’s second coach since Argentine Gerardo Martino steered them to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, dropped top strikers Roque Santa Cruz and Oscar Cardoso in a bid to rejuvenate the team but has presided over three defeats including Friday’s 2-0 loss in Colombia.

(Additional reporting by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires, editing by Ed Osmond)

The Argentine six-times South American champions took the
semi-final tie 2-0 on aggregate having won the first leg by that
score at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires last week.

Corinthians completed a 2-1 aggregate win over fellow
Brazilians Santos, the title holders, on Wednesday.

Boca playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme took the early
initiative, looking for openings for the strikers and volleying
a shot against the bar from Pablo Mouche’s cross in the 8th
minute.

Boca goalkeeper Agustin Orion had to make a sharp save in
the 23rd minute from a header by Junior Fernandes at a free kick
taken by midfielder Marcelo Diaz.

‘La U’ had more of the ball and did most of the attacking
but were less incisive than Boca and they were lucky not to be
at least a goal down to the Argentines at the interval.

Riquelme twice put Mouche clean through on goal in the space
of two minutes but the striker lost control with the first
opportunity and goalkeeper Johnny Herrera covered well to save
the second.

The home side had two near misses in the second half, the
first when a 54th minute Diaz free kick hit the post.

With 10 minutes remaining, Universidad’s Peruvian substitute
forward Raul Ruidiaz was also denied by the post.

The two-legged final will be Boca’s 10th and Corinthians’
first. The Argentine side are at home in the first leg next
Wednesday.

(Reporting by Claudio Cerda; writing by Rex Gowar in London;
Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Kobrich, a veteran of two previous Games and one of Chile’s medal hopes in London, will take part in the 800 meters freestyle and give the 10km open water race a miss.

The 26-year-old was 20th in the 800 meters heats in Beijing, a psychological blow that badly affected her performance in open water five days later when she failed to stay the course.

“The psychological aspect is fundamental. In fact, at the time of competing it’s all down to psychology because you’ve done all the physical work,” her Argentine coach Daniel Garimaldi told Reuters.

“You have to prepare your body so it can respond to the demands of the mind,” he said in a joint interview on a visit to Kobrich’s home city of Santiago.

“We need her to be 100 percent physically so that she can respond to all the mental demands she makes of her body.”

Kobrich is in the final stages of preparation with a daily routine of six hours in the pool and three sessions a week with weights in the gym.

“We can improve the psychological part which is where we’re placing a lot of our bets, and in the physical part we’re polishing our competition rhythm, which is more about tactics,” Garimaldi said.

“I hope to have matured a bit,” said Kobrich, the 800 meters Pan-American champion and Chile’s flag bearer as a teenager at the 2004 Athens Games opening ceremony.

“In those (Beijing) Games we were also in the open water (race) and that was tough, a learning curve seeking immediate responses. At the time, it was sad and painful (but) we picked ourselves up quickly.

“Today I’m in a position to choose knowing I’m in good shape and that nothing can distract me. I’m going for it.”

Briton Rebecca Adlington, the Olympic champion, will be the favorite in home water in London.

TRACK TO POOL

Kobrich started swimming when she was nine, obliged to get in the pool because her parents had no-one to leave her with while her elder sisters went to swimming lessons.

For several years she practiced athletics and swimming until at 13 her coach told her to choose one, and she now holds the South American 800 and 1,500 meters freestyle records.

“Her rivals aren’t in quite as good form as we thought. That doesn’t mean they’re not good (but) chances have improved a bit to fight for (a place on) the podium. Those chances used to be a long way off,” Garimaldi said.

“The possibilities of being among the top three or four have grown immensely.”

Kobrich, who left her country nine years ago to train in Argentina, shares her coach’s confidence and smiles timidly when she talks of her prospects in London.

“Today, we’re sticking to the 800, it’s a super difficult race but we’re in the top 10. To be in the final would be historic for me and my country (Chile),” she said.

“You earn the respect of your rivals, who look at you differently and plan their races accordingly.

“Some go, others come… there’s renewal but I’m still there. I’m proud to have been among the top swimmers for a long time. Very few can do that.”

Kobrich and gymnast Tomas Gonzalez are Chilean fans’ big hopes to see their country’s flag raised at a medals ceremony in London.

Should they succeed, there will be celebrations all over Chile as there were when tennis players Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez won medals in Athens in 2004 and Gonzalez climbed the podium again in Beijing.

“We’re trying to break the mould with individual sports that are totally amateur, sports in which it’s difficult to make a breakthrough (in Chile),” Kobrich said.

“Only when you’re at the top do you get a guarantee of (financial) support for an annual project which you’ve been seeking for a long time.”

(Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires; Editing by Ossian Shine)

Kobrich, a veteran of two previous Games and one of Chile’s
medal hopes in London, will take part in the 800 metres
freestyle and give the 10km open water race a miss.

The 26-year-old was 20th in the 800 metres heats in Beijing,
a psychological blow that badly affected her performance in open
water five days later when she failed to stay the course.

“The psychological aspect is fundamental. In fact, at the
time of competing it’s all down to psychology because you’ve
done all the physical work,” her Argentine coach Daniel
Garimaldi told Reuters.

“You have to prepare your body so it can respond to the
demands of the mind,” he said in a joint interview on a visit to
Kobrich’s home city of Santiago.

“We need her to be 100 percent physically so that she can
respond to all the mental demands she makes of her body.”

Kobrich is in the final stages of preparation with a daily
routine of six hours in the pool and three sessions a week with
weights in the gym.

“We can improve the psychological part which is where we’re
placing a lot of our bets, and in the physical part we’re
polishing our competition rhythm, which is more about tactics,”
Garimaldi said.

“I hope to have matured a bit,” said Kobrich, the 800 metres
Pan-American champion and Chile’s flag bearer as a teenager at
the 2004 Athens Games opening ceremony.

“In those (Beijing) Games we were also in the open water
(race) and that was tough, a learning curve seeking immediate
responses. At the time, it was sad and painful (but) we picked
ourselves up quickly.

“Today I’m in a position to choose knowing I’m in good shape
and that nothing can distract me. I’m going for it.”

Briton Rebecca Adlington, the Olympic champion, will be the
favourite in home water in London.

TRACK TO POOL

Kobrich started swimming when she was nine, obliged to get
in the pool because her parents had no-one to leave her with
while her elder sisters went to swimming lessons.

For several years she practised athletics and swimming until
at 13 her coach told her to choose one, and she now holds the
South American 800 and 1,500 metres freestyle records.

“Her rivals aren’t in quite as good form as we thought. That
doesn’t mean they’re not good (but) chances have improved a bit
to fight for (a place on) the podium. Those chances used to be a
long way off,” Garimaldi said.

“The possibilities of being among the top three or four have
grown immensely.”

Kobrich, who left her country nine years ago to train in
Argentina, shares her coach’s confidence and smiles timidly when
she talks of her prospects in London.

“Today, we’re sticking to the 800, it’s a super difficult
race but we’re in the top 10. To be in the final would be
historic for me and my country (Chile),” she said.

“You earn the respect of your rivals, who look at you
differently and plan their races accordingly.

“Some go, others come… there’s renewal but I’m still
there. I’m proud to have been among the top swimmers for a long
time. Very few can do that.”

Kobrich and gymnast Tomas Gonzalez are Chilean fans’ big
hopes to see their country’s flag raised at a medals ceremony in
London.

Should they succeed, there will be celebrations all over
Chile as there were when tennis players Nicolas Massu and
Fernando Gonzalez won medals in Athens in 2004 and Gonzalez
climbed the podium again in Beijing.

“We’re trying to break the mould with individual sports that
are totally amateur, sports in which it’s difficult to make a
breakthrough (in Chile),” Kobrich said.

“Only when you’re at the top do you get a guarantee of
(financial) support for an annual project which you’ve been
seeking for a long time.”

(Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires; Editing by Ossian Shine)

“It’s complicated because the time between one match and another is very short,” said Lugano, who limped off after damaging a right knee ligament during Uruguay’s quarter-final win over Ghana.

Lugano’s absence would be another blow to “La Celeste,” who will also miss striker Luis Suarez in Tuesday’s match in Cape Town. He is serving a one-match ban for handling the ball on the line against Ghana in the last moments of extra time.

Defender Jorge Fucile also misses the semi-final after picking up a second yellow card, and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is out after fracturing a bone in his fight foot.

Speaking at a chaotic session with several hundred journalists, Lugano said he had not given up hope and had been able to do some light practice on Sunday.

“I was lucky enough to train and run in a straight line without pain, which is good news because it’s only 48 hours since I was injured,” he said.

“Now we’ll have to wait until the last minute. The pain is not what matters, the point is to be 100 percent ready for a match of this level and be honest with my teammates and country. Tomorrow I will evaluate if I’m okay or not.”

(Writing by Andrew Cawthorne, editing by Jon Bramley)

“It’s a blessing from God, not everyone has the opportunity to kick off the World Cup and we’re aware that millions of people will be watching,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Among those watching the Group A game pitchside at 1400GMT in Soccer City could be 91-year-old Nelson Mandela though the former South African president has made very few public appearances in recent months.

South African president Jacob Zuma and Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon are expected to attend.

“People who have made history such as Mandela will be there, people who have brought so much to society and to humanity,” the Argentine-born naturalised Mexican said.

Franco added he was impressed by the effort made to hype up the June 11-July 11 tournament, where Mexico will also face France and Uruguay in the group stages.

“The whole world and all of Mexico is throwing itself into this event and for us this is so important. We know what a big deal it is to represent our country,” he added.

Franco is among a number of players not assured a starting place in Javier Aguirre’s team but with seven goals in 21 appearances he could feature. (Writing by Tom Pilcher; Editing by Jon Bramley)

Thousands of Nigerians turned up at the Makhulong stadium outside Johannesburg looking to enjoy Nigeria’s friendly against North Korea, a warm-up for the tournament which starts on Friday.

But the 54-year-old, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was unable to see a single minute of Nigeria’s 3-1 win. Before reaching the stands he was trampled by the crowd trying to get in when they heard the match was free.

Although FIFA says no other World Cup has had ticket availability like the 2010 finals in South Africa, the incident highlights the fact that the cost of tickets is an obstacle for the people of Africa, the planet’s poorest continent.

“I was trying to get in and people started to crush me,” Reuben, who had a leg wound, told Reuters. “There were a lot of people trying to get in and that’s when it all got nasty.”

Sunday’s game was the only chance for many Nigerians fans to see their team since the so-called “accessible tickets” for the Group B matches against Argentina, South Korea and Greece have sold out.

“It was now or never. I can’t pay hundreds of dollars to see the national team. I travelled many kilometres to get here, it’s the most I can do,” said Chadi, a 35-year-old Nigerian who managed to get in before the trouble started.

The crush, during the first half, occurred when people living in the vicinity of the stadium found out that Nigerian immigrants could get in free and the 10,000-capacity stadium was already almost full.

About 250,000 Nigerians live in South Africa, according to unofficial figures, although some estimates put the total above 400,000, many of them illegal immigrants in abject poverty.

Hours after the incident that left an injured policeman in serious condition, FIFA issued a statement saying it had nothing to do with the organisation of Sunday’s game.

(Writing by Rex Gowar in Pretoria; Editing by Nigel Hunt; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

The match was briefly stopped early in the second half because of the injuries and safety of the fans in the overcrowded main stand where the fencing had been removed.

“Police have asked me to stop the match because of rioting and injuries,” South Africa soccer official Steve Goddard told Reuters. The match resumed some five minutes later.

The police officer sustained serious injuries when mostly Nigerian fans pushed the gate on to him in their effort to enter the 10,000-seater stadium to watch the match between the two World Cup participants.

“He was crushed by the gates as people stormed them, trying to get in,” a police official at the scene told Reuters.

Among those injured was at least one child, according to a Reuters witness.

Hundreds of fans, holding what police said were photocopies of tickets, tried to break down the gates after the match had started and police had closed them.

Medics said they had transferred 13 people to hospital but some of them had only minor scrapes.

Some 500 fans remained in the area around the stadium after the stampede. Inside the stadium there were still many empty seats as the match was not sold out.

The tournament kicks off on Friday, June 11.