Soccer-S.America round-up-Paraguayan team hit by food poisoning

By Brian Homewood

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Paraguayan team 3 de Febrero were hit by a bout of food poisoning which landed one player in hospital before their game against Guarani at the weekend.

Deportivo Italia won the first stage of the Venezuela championship and veteran goalkeeper Rene Higuita conceded three goals for the second weekend in a row in Colombia.

PARAGUAY

Guarani won 4-1 at 3 de Febrero and closed the gap on leaders Libertad to one point with one match each to play in the Clausura championship.

Relegation-threatened 3 de Febrero said that seven of their players were hit before the match by a bout of food poisoning which was blamed on a juice drink mixed with vitamins.

"This needs to be investigated," said coach Pedro Nelson Fleitas. "We don't know if the product was past its sell-by date of if somebody put something intentionally in the juice."

Defender Juan Ortiz was treated in hospital and several other players missed the game.