Paraguay dedicating World Cup to Cabanas

Paraguay's players are dedicating their success at the World Cup to Salvador Cabanas, the team's striker who is back home recovering from a gunshot wound to the head.

``What we are achieving is for him,'' said forward Cristian Riveros after a penalty kicks shootout victory over Japan pushed Paraguay into its first World Cup quarterfinal. ``We called him from our room last week, and we'll continue to do so.''

Cabanas was attacked on Jan. 25 in Mexico, and a member of a suspected drug cartel has been arrested as an accomplice.

The shooting took place at a Mexico City bar over an argument about soccer. The trouble started when the alleged shooter questioned Cabanas' scoring ability and the player responded angrily.

``He's always with us in spirit,'' Riveros said. ``We have good news in that he's in his second recuperation stage and he's doing well.''

Cabanas was Paraguay's top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers.