Soccer: Late goal saves NZ against Paraguay

Second-half substitute Sarah McLaughlin grabbed an 82nd-minute equaliser for the New Zealand under-17 women's soccer team in a 1-1 draw against hosts Paraguay in Asuncion today.

The New Zealanders trailed 0-1 at halftime before McLaughlin latched on to a diagonal ball from Briony Fisher, dinked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and tapped the ball into an empty net.

New Zealand finished the four-team tournament in third place on four points behind Paraguay on goal difference.

Senior club side Universidad Autonoma claimed the title with a 2-0 win over Cerro Porteno.

New Zealand head coach Paul Temple praised the way his side played after successive 0-4 losses, one of them to Paraguay.

"It was a great reaction from the players after some tough results over here," Temple said.

New Zealand are hosting the under-17 World Cup in November.

- NZPA