RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP):

SOUTH AMERICAN powers Brazil and Argentina failed to fire in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday, while Paraguay cemented their place at the top of the standings.

Brazil played out a scoreless draw with struggling Colombia, failing to win at home for the third straight match.

Fans booed the players off the field and loudly jeered Brazil coach Dunga, who is in danger of losing his job after another disappointing home result.

The five-time world champions also endured scoreless draws against then-last-placed Bolivia last month and Argentina in June.

"When a team plays on defence like Colombia did, it's hard to win," Dunga said. "But we will have to find ways to break though these defensive schemes."

Brazil second

Brazil remain second in the 10-team South American standings, six points behind leaders Paraguay who beat Peru 1-0. Argentina and Chile share third place on 16 points.

Uruguay have 13 points, ahead of Ecuador on 12, Colombia on 11, Venezuela on 10, Bolivia on nine and Peru with seven. The top four will automatically qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Fabian Orellana scored on debut at Santiago to give Chile their first win over Argentina in official competition. Chile had previously beaten Argentina only in friendlies, and the last was in 1973.

Orellana, a striker with the local Audax Italiano side, scored in the 35th minute with a 12-yard shot off a cross from defender Gary Medel.

Paraguay win

At Asuncion, Paraguay, substitute midfielder Edgar Benitez gave Paraguay a 1-0 win over Peru.

Benitez scored in the 81st minute when a corner caused a scramble for the bouncing ball in the box and Oscar Cardozo deflected to Benitez to score.

Benitez joined the squad only last week for the injured Roque Santa Cruz, and replaced Jonathan Santana 20 minutes before he scored.

Venezuela defeated Ecuador 3-1 to break a four-game losing streak in qualifying.

Isaac Mina put Ecuador ahead in the 11th minute, but as the second half began Venezuela's attack improved before 14,000 screaming fans at General José Antonio Anzoategui Stadium in the coastal city of Puerto La Cruz.

Striker Giancarlo Maldonado equalised in the 49th. Nine minutes later, Alejandro Moreno slipped a loose ball past goalkeeper Jose Cevallos for a 2-1 lead.

Juan Arango split the defence in 67th and sent a left-footed blast into the upper right corner to seal Venezuela's third win in 10 matches, and first since last November.