Having let a two-goal advantage slip in their opening match, tournament favourites Argentina were hoping to get their campaign back on track in their tie in the Estadio La Portada de La Serena against reigning champions Uruguay.

However they were nearly behind on two occasions during the first half as Uruguay’s Diego Godin and Diego Rolan directed headers wide of the target.

Shortly after those chances Argentina’s coach Gerardo Martino was sent to that stands after gesticulating towards the referee following a decision to only book Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro after a poorly timed challenge.

Martino’s mood was improved after the interval as Manchester City teammates Paolo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero combined to give Argentina a second half lead, with Zabaleta flashing a cross towards the near post where the 27-year-old striker directed his header beyond Fernando Muslera.

With Uruguay struggling to find a response in the closing stages the game descended into scrappy affair as the reigning champions becoming increasingly frustrated which allowed Argentina to see out the 1-0 victory.

Argentina share top spot in the group with Paraguay, after the 2011 runners-up benefited from a dreadful error from Jamaican goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr to win their game in the Estadio Regional Calvo y Bascuñán in the Chilean city of Antofagasta.

The goalkeeper opted to race out of his box to deal with a hopeful Paraguayan pass forward but instead headed the ball into Édgar Benítez, before watching helpless at it struck Paraguay’s striker and looped over his head into the net.

Jamaica had been fortunate to have been level prior to Kerr’s error as Roque Santa Cruz had twice forced saves from the goalkeeper in the first half, while Miguel Samudio struck the crossbar with a curling effort.

Víctor Cáceres then thought he had added to his sides lead with a far post finish but was denied by the linesman’s offside flag and Paraguay were nearly punished for their missed chances as Jamaica’s Gareth McCleary sent a rasping shot narrowly wide of the posts.

Paraguay’s victory saw them move above Uruguay in Group B with the result putting them on course to qualify for the knock-out phase.

Tomorrow’s matches are due to see Brazil take on a Colombia side eager to bounce back from a shock defeat to Venezuela in their opening match, while their conquerors will hope to claim a second victory in Group C when they take on Peru.

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