Paraguay hold Argentina to 2-2 draw at Copa

Argentina’s dreams of a first major title in 22 years were given a reality check as Paraguay came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-2 draw in a Copa America classic.

 English Premier league star Sergio Aguero and captain Lionel Messi looked to have put Argentina on the road to a routine victory in Group B after firing the tournament favourites into a 2-0 first-half lead yesterday.

 But a long-range strike from Nelson Valdez hauled Paraguay back into the contest before Argentine-born forward Lucas Barrios grabbed a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser.

 The stunning comeback left Argentina in shock and could complicate their route through the knockout rounds in Chile.

 “It is a sin,” to give away an equaliser in the final minute, Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said afterwards, lambasting his team’s “neglect.”

 “We lost control and the other team had four or five chances to get a draw,” Martino told a news conference.  “We had many chances to win,” he added, saying that the team in the second half were “totally different from the side that played in the first half.”