Striker Nilmar capitalised on a piece of good fortune to earn Brazil a 2-1 home win over Paraguay on Wednesday that keeps them top of the South American World Cup qualifying table.

Nilmar, who had a quiet first half, chested a Felipe Melo

pass towards Kaka, only for the ball to come back to him off

the unfortunate Julio Cesar Caceres and the striker managed to

scramble it home in the 50th minute.

Paraguay went ahead midway through the first half when

Salvador Cabanas's free kick from outside the box took a

deflection off Elano and looped over Brazil goalkeeper Julio

Cesar.

Robinho then volleyed an exquisite equaliser four minutes

before halftime from Daniel Alves's cross from the right.

Brazil have 27 points with four matches to go in the

10-team South American group. Paraguay are third with 24

points, two behind second placed Chile, with Argentina fourth

(22).

The top four qualify automatically for next year's finals

in South Africa.

"It was a match in which we had to be patient and

persistent," Brazil coach Dunga told reporters.

"We had to try playing on the wings, at speed, changing

sides. Everyone plays tight away from home and that makes it

difficult to win.

"We need three more points to be sure (of qualifying)," he

added.

Brazil squandered several chances towards the end of an

exciting second half, played in a torrential downpour in front

of a crowd of 66,000 in the tropical city of Recife.

Paraguay had less possession but posed more threat with

their counter-attacks in the first half, midfielder Carlos

Bonet shooting just over the bar and busy striker Osvaldo

Martinez going close from a tight angle before Cabanas opened

the scoring.

His goal was only the second conceded by Brazil at home in

the qualifiers and Julio Cesar had to be alert to prevent

Cabanas from scoring again in the 70th minute.

Paraguay keeper Justo Villar made a diving save from

Robinho close to the hour and the striker also went close with

a free kick and shot over near the end after a good cross from

Kaka.

Kaka, who signed for Real Madrid earlier this week, was

guilty of a miss himself when he put the ball wide from a metre

out following a low cross by marauding central defender Lucio.

Brazil visit arch-rivals Argentina in their next match,

with the home side clinging desperately to an automatic

qualifying berth after a 2-0 loss away to Ecuador.