The US National Team dropped a 3-1 decision to Copa América Group C foe Paraguay that included several spurned chances and a big defensive mistake.

The earliest disappointment came when Sacha Kljestan missed a coolly served-up far post header from Ben Olsen's cross in the 10th minute.

Three minutes later, Kasey Keller got down to make a save on Edgar Barreto after Benny Feilhaber turned the ball over in his own area.

In the 20th minute, Taylor Twellman nearly nodded into his own net defending a corner kick, but Jonathan Bornstein cleared the line. Six minutes later, Eddie Johnson skied over from a corner kick at the other end.

Just past the half hour, NEC Nijmegen midfielder Barreto slid onto a through pass from Santa Cruz to poke his side ahead.

The US nearly pulled level in the 34th minute, but Bornstein saw his weak effort from a smart Johnson cutback saved.

The 'Nats did equalize in the 41st minute after some patient possession. Ricardo Clark buried a 20-meter low shot from a Taylor Twellman lay-off for his first international goal.

Twellman had a chance to grab the lead shortly after intermission after some good work down the left by Johnson, but was unable to pull the trigger.

Paraguay lost captain and starting keeper Justo Villar to an injury in the 55th minute, but would regain the lead for good moments later. Bornstein served a very poor long back pass for Keller and Jimmy Conrad was low to react, allowing Cardozo to swoop in for the easy finish.

Jay DeMerit was sent to the sidelines by an injury and replaced by Danny Califf midway through the period.

After Santa Cruz forced a solid Keller save in the 69th minute, Twellman shot meekly into back-up keeper Aldo Bobadilla and Johnson nudged a diving header wide of the near post in fast succession.

Some good US possession ended with Johnson's cross swatted away by Bobadilla before substitute Justin Mapp squandered a golden chance to level again in the 77th minute. Feilhaber released the left-sider with an incisive lead ball, but the Fire man could only chip over the bar with Johnson calling for the ball at the other post.

Keller made successive saves on Salvador Cabanas and Edgar Barreto, and Clark nearly made Paraguay pay a second time with four minutes remaining. Johnson teed up the Houston star at the top of the area, and only a fine stretch save from Bobadilla kept the shot out of his top corner.

Seconds later, debutant right back Drew Moor had a clean look at goal from Feilhaber's cross, but Bobadilla was alert to his doorstep header.

A minute before time, the US failed on its final chance to knot matters as Johnson saw a 16-meter header from Bornstein's cross saved.

Cabanas banged home a stoppage time free kick to remove any doubt, leaving the Americans banking on a strong win over final Group C combatant Colombia on Thursday.

"We played very well, we just gave them a couple of easy chances," Keller told reporters after the game. "When you give a good team and good players easy chances, they are going to beat you."

"This is why we are here. We are here to give these guys this experience. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to make mistakes to learn."

Scoring
PAR - Edgar Barreto (Roque Santa Cruz) 30'
USA - Ricardo Clark (Taylor Twellman) 40'
PAR - Oscar Cardozo 56'
PAR - Salvador Cabanas 90+

Line-ups
USA - Kasey Keller; Drew Moor, Jay DeMerit (Danny Califf 65'), Jimmy Conrad, Jonathan Bornstein, Ben Olsen (Justin Mapp 71'), Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, Sacha Kljestan (Lee Nguyen 81'), Taylor Twellman, Eddie Johnson

PAR - Justo Villar (Aldo Bobadilla 55'); Dario Veron, Julio Cesar Caceres, Paulo da Silva, Claudio Morel, Carlos Bonet, Edgar Barreto, Cristian Riveros, Jonathan Santana (Enrique Vera 77'), Oscar Cardozo (Salvador Cabanas 73'), Roque Santa Cruz