ASUNCION, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Paraguay powered their way to a 5-1 win over hapless Ecuador on Saturday, leaving their opponents pointless after three games of the South American World Cup qualifiers.

Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez, who led his side to the

last 16 at last year's World Cup, quit immediately after the

defeat.

Nelson Haedo Valdez and Cristian Riveros scored from

corners in the first half hour and Roque Santa Cruz added a

superb third shortly after halftime for the hosts.

Substitute Ivan Kaviedes pulled one back, the first goal

scored by Ecuador and conceded by Paraguay in the group, only

for Nestor Ayala and Riveros to add two more late in the game.

Paraguay, who are attempting to reach their fourth

successive finals, have seven points while Ecuador were left

bottom of the 10-team South American group with 11 goals

against after conceding five for the second match running.

The visitors, beaten 5-0 by Brazil last month, sorely

missed defenders Ulises de la Cruz and Ivan Hurtado, who have

more than 200 caps between them but were dropped after

criticising the atmosphere in the squad.

'There are times when, in spite of all the effort, one

cannot find what one is looking for and, thinking in the

well-being of the Ecuador team, I have taken the irreversible

decision to resign,' said Suarez.

'My decision has been taken exclusively for the good of the

Ecuador team, which will surely have a better campaign without

me,' added the Colombian.

The hosts went straight onto the attack as Claudio Morel

Rodriguez, Haedo and Santa Cruz all went close and their opener

duly arrived in the ninth minute when Haedo outjumped the

Ecuador defence to head in Morel's corner.

The second also came from a Morel corner in the 27th minute

as Santa Cruz headed the ball on at the near post and Riveros

half-volleyed into the roof of the net from close range.

Santa Cruz was close nine minutes later before getting onto

the scoresheet in style in the 51st minute.

Enrique Vera won possession on the halfway line and slipped

a superb pass to the Blackburn Rovers player, who collected the

ball in his stride and scored with a powerful shot.

Ecuador's misery was far from over, even when Kaviedes

pulled one back in the 80th minute.

Ayala restored Paraguay's three-goal advantage three

minutes later and Riveros fired in the fifth with two minutes

left.