Striker Jose Cardozo hit a hat-trick for rejuvenated Paraguay in a 4-1 demolition of Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Javier Chevanton fired Uruguay ahead direct from a free kick in the 24th minute but Cardozo replied three minutes later. Carlos Paredes headed Paraguay ahead early in the half before Cardozo added two more.

It was a dramatic change of fortunes for both sides. Paraguay had begun their campaign by losing 4-1 in Peru while Uruguay got underway by thrashing Bolivia 5-0.

Despite an emphatic opening victory, flamboyant Uruguay coach Juan Ramon Carrasco made six changes to his starting line-up and dropped the entire midfield, including Inter Milan's Alvaro Recoba who captained the team on Sunday and had an outstanding match.

Recoba eventually came on in the 61st minute when Paraguay were already 3-1 ahead.

Despite the re-shuffles, the Sky Blues had the best of the opening exchanges as they took control in midfield.

Manchester United striker Diego Forlan had an excellent chance when he escaped the defence but Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar, chosen ahead of the more experienced Ricardo Tavarelli, saved at his feet.

Shortly afterwards, Penarol striker Carlos Bueno was guilty of a glaring miss.

Chevanton, who scored twice against Bolivia, finally put Uruguay ahead with a superbly executed free kick.

But Cardozo, who holds the record for the most number of goals scored in the Mexican championship, equalised almost immediately with a header after he was left unmarked.

Forlan hit the post for Uruguay at the start of the second half before Bueno wasted another good chance.

Paredes made the visitors pay when he headed home from a corner in the 54th minute.

Cardozo turned it into a rout when he scored with an angled shot four minutes later from a pass by Jorge Campos and converted another Campos pass in the 73rd.

Scorers:

Paraguay - Jose Cardozo 27, 58, 73, Carlos Paredes 54

Uruguay - Javier Chevanton 24

Halftime: 1-1. Attendance: 20,000

Paraguay - 12-Justo Villar; 2-Francisco Arce, 4-Carlos Gamarra, 3-Julio Cesar Caceres, 14-Paulo Da Silva; 6-Carlos Bonet, 16-Julio Cesar Enciso (17-Angel Ortiz, 90), 13-Carlos Paredes, 11-Jorge Campos (8-Diego Gavilan, 81); 24-Roque Santa Cruz, 20-Jose Cardozo

Uruguay - 1-Gustavo Munua; 14-Christian Gonzalez, 2-Cono Aguiar, 3-Gonzalo Sorondo, 7-Mario Regueiro (11-Richard Nunez, 78); 8-Nelson Abeijon, 18-Guillermo Giacomazzi (10-Martin Liguera, 46), 17-Ruben Olivera; 19-Javier Chevanton, 9-Carlos Bueno (20-Alvaro Recoba, 61), 21-Diego Forlan

Referee - Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)

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