Paraguay peg back Argentina to draw 2-2 in Copa America

Copa America favourites Argentina were denied an opening win as Paraguay came from behind to draw 2-2 in Chile.

Goals from Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi - the second from the penalty spot - scarcely did justice to the Argentines' first-half dominance, but a Nelson Valdez cracker (60) gave Paraguay a lifeline.

And it was Argentina-born substitute Lucas Barrios who lashed in an equaliser in the last of the 90 minutes to leave Uruguay - winners against Jamaica earlier - top of Group B.

It was an outcome that did not seem likely when Miguel Samudio's blind back-pass allowed Aguero to sidestep Antony Silva and slot the opening goal (29).

The hapless Samudio then ploughed into Angel Di Maria to give Argentina a penalty, which Messi buried to put his side in total control.

Paraguay escaped on two fronts at the start of the second half - substitute Derlis Gonzalez avoiding a second yellow card in short order for a poor tackle on Di Maria and Silva stopping Messi with his legs.

And Valdez blasted them back in the game from 20 yards moments after Sergio Romero's one-handed stop had denied him.

The last half-hour was a free-for-all, Valdez flicking off target at one end and Messi firing across the face of goal at the other.

Both 'keepers kept the score at 2-1, Silva reacting sharply to beat out Javier Pastore's close-range drive before Romero's reflexes denied Samudio a redemptive equaliser.

But just as it seemed Argentina had weathered the storm a deep free-kick was knocked down to the edge of the box for Barrios to blast inside the near post.