Faisal Bin Sultan scored a second-half equalizer for Saudi Arabia to salvage a 1-1 draw against Paraguay on Wednesday in a friendly ahead of World Cup qualifying. Paraguay had taken the lead in the ninth minute through Cristian Riveros and controlled much of the game before Faisal Bin Sultan exploited a rare mistake by the South American defense in the 77th. The substitute ran toward the goal after defender Julio Cesar Caceres misjudged a header and floated a shot over goalkeeper Justo Villar from 20 yards. Saudi Arabia struggled to contain Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz, but almost scored a late winner when Ahmed Ateef was denied a shot by Paulo Da Silva's tackle. Paraguay leads the 10-team South American qualification table for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and resumes its campaign against second-placed Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sept. 6. Saudi Arabia hosts Iran in Riyadh on the same day to open a five-team group from which two nations will qualify. Riveros' goal came off a corner, when he rose unchallenged to head the ball high into the net. Paraguay had chances to increase the lead in the first half, but Barreto shot tamely at goalkeeper Mansour Al-Naje after taking crossfield pass from Oscar Cardozo, and Santa Cruz headed over the goal when Al-Naje advanced from his line but failed to collect a cross. The Saudis' best attempt was a powerful 25-yard shot from Nasser Al-Shamrani in first-half stoppage time that forced Villar to dive to his right and push it away for a corner. – AP __
