South Africa 3-0 Paraguay

PRETORIA, March 26 (Reuters) - Striker Benni McCarthy scored a record-breaking 30th international goal for South Africa as they beat Paraguay 3-0 in a friendly at the Super stadium in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria, on Wednesday. The Blackburn Rovers forward, playing in his 70th international, rose above two defenders to head home a cross from Surprise Moriri just two minutes into the second half.

The strike took him past the previous record of 29 set by Shaun Bartlett.

Moriri had opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark with a close-range volley after expertly chesting down a stinging square cross from overlapping full back Tsepo Masilela.

Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala added the third in the 63rd minute, chipping Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar from the edge of the area.

The result came as a major boost for beleaguered coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as he prepares the host team for the 2010 World Cup finals.

South Africa had failed to get past the first round at the African Nations Cup finals in Ghana in January and had not beaten a team from outside Africa for almost two years.

Their win over Paraguay was the first victory for South Africa over South American opposition in 10 attempts.

Roque Santa Cruz, the Paraguay striker who also plays at Blackburn, was taken off after just 23 minutes after suffering a knock on the ankle from club mate Aaron Mokoena.

South African captain Mokoena was making his 74th international appearance - equalling the previous record, also set by Bartlett.Here