Striker Dario Silva scored two second-half goals as 10-man Uruguay came from behind to beat Paraguay 3-1 in the quarter-final of the Copa America football tournament on Sunday.

Silva put Uruguay 2-1 ahead with his first international goal since November 2001 two minutes after Gustavo Varela had become the third Uruguayan to be shown a red card in the tournament. He then made it 3-1 with one minute to play.

Paraguay, who are using the tournament as a warm-up for next month's Olympic soccer tournament and are fielding virtually an under-23 team, had gone ahead with a header from Carlos Gamarra, one of their few older players.

Carlos Bueno levelled for Uruguay with a penalty just before halftime.

Paraguay, fresh from a shock first round win over Brazil, made a lively start and German-based striker Nelson Haedo was close to giving them the lead with a shot on the turn which went just wide.

They deservedly went ahead when defender Gamarra rose to head a Carlos Paredes free kick into the net.

Uruguay equalised six minutes before halftime when Bueno won and converted a penalty.

The Penarol player was upended as he tried to meet Diego Forlan's cross from the left and sent Justo Villar the wrong way to collect his third goal of the tournament.

Uruguay, who lost their previous four matches against Paraguay, appeared to be in trouble as Varela was dismissed for a late, sliding tackle from behind on Fredy Bareiro.

Instead, the Uruguayans went ahead when Silva scored two minutes later.

He received a Cristian Rodriguez cross with his back to goal and, although his first touch was not good, he managed to get to the ball first and scored with a shot on the turn which took a deflection off a defender.

Silva, who refused to play for Uruguay after the 2002 World Cup in a dispute over bonuses, last scored in the World Cup qualifier against Australia nearly three years ago.

Uruguay goalkeeper Sebastian Viera kept his team ahead with some fine goalkeeping before Silva finished off a counter-attack in the 89th minute.