Venezuela coach Rafael Dudamel reveals women were sent to the team hotel to distract his players ahead of World Cup qualifier with Paraguay

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Venezuela coach Rafael Dudamel has made the extraordinary claim that a number of women were sent to the team hotel to distract his players ahead of Tuesday's crucial World Cup qualifier in Paraguay.

While visitors Venezuela had already been eliminated, Paraguay still had a chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia ahead of the match in Asuncion.

And, according to Dudamel, someone was clearly very keen for his players to be distracted and perhaps a little tired so that Paraguay had the edge.

Venezuela coach Rafael Dudamel has revealed that a number of women visited the team hotel to distract his players ahead of their important World Cup qualifier against Paraguay

A female Paraguay fan pictured in the stands during Tuesday night's match - not one of the women mentioned by Dudamel

'There were several women visits last night [Monday] at the hotel,' said the Venezuela boss. 'But football players have changed.

'We were not surprised by these female visits, I do not know who sent them. These are old strategies.'

Clearly Venezuelan heads were not turned and their professionalism paid off when Yangel Herrera scored the only goal of the game six minutes from time to end Paraguay's qualification hopes.

Venezuela won the game 1-0 thanks to a Yangel Herrera goal and scuppered Paraguay's hopes

Dejected Paraguay players after the defeat ended their hopes of World Cup qualification

They finished seventh in the final standings, two points behind Peru, who will take on New Zealand in the Inter-Confederation Play-off next month.

On a dramatic night across the continent, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia took the four automatic qualifications spots for Russia 2018.

Venezuela ended up rock bottom in the group, having won just two of their 18 matches.