Defending champion Brazil shocked 1-0 by Paraguay in South American qualifying tournament

NEW DELHI: Olympic champions Brazil suffered a setback in its bid to secure a place at this year’s Paris Games after their under-23 team slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat by Paraguay on Monday in the final four South American qualifying tournament.

Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Venezuela are competing in a round robin final qualifying stage for the 2024 Games, with only the top two securing berths in Paris. Fabrizio Peralta’s header in the final seconds of the first half was enough to give Paraguay, which last competed at the Olympics in 2004, an unexpected victory.

Brazil will next face Venezuela, which beat them 3-1 in the preliminary stage earlier this month, on Thursday. Paraguay’s next fixture will be against Argentina.

The qualifiers, being held in Caracas, wrap up on February 11. Agencies

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