A goalkeeping blunder by Jamaica goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr proved decisive as Paraguay picked up three Copa America points with a 1-0 win in Antofagasta.
In attempting to clear a long ball in the closing stages of the first half, Kerr headed a clearance against the boot of Edgar Benitez and watched it bounce beyond him and into the unguarded net.
It means Ramon Diaz's team, who drew with Argentina in their opening match, are well placed to reach the quarter-finals. However, Jamaica will need to win their final match, against Argentina, if they are to progress.
Roque Santa Cruz had gone close three times before the game's decisive moment came in the 36th minute, Kerr making a hash of clearing a hopeful long ball which had gone beyond Benitez.
Nestor Ortigoza sought to double Paraguay's advantage four minutes before the interval but he shot wide from outside the penalty area.
Widely-travelled striker Santa Cruz, now playing in Mexico with Cruz Azul, shot wide in the 49th minute and three minutes later team-mate Victor Caceres was only just off target.
However, Jamaica -- who rarely threatened in the first half -- looked the more likely team to score in the remainder of the contest in the northern Chile port city.
Their first chance came in the 54th minute -- but Simon Dawkins' effort was high and wide of the Paraguay goal.
With 20 minutes remaining a deflected cross almost ran kindly for Jamaica substitute Deshorn Brown, but Paraguay goalkeeper Anthony Silva reacted smartly to snuff out the danger.
A minute later Paraguay were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Santa Cruz's header was handled by defender Adrian Mariappa -- but the red and white appeals were not convincing and referee Carlos Vera chose to ignore them.
That was as close as Paraguay came in the second half -- but Jamaica were not finished and Winfried Schafer's men created three chances in the final 10 minutes.
After Garath McCleary's crisply struck long-range effort had gone narrowly wide of Silva's far post with the goalkeeper scrambling, defender Wes Morgan failed to make clean contact with a 90th-minute header from Lance Laing's cross.
And it was a similar story for the Reggae Boyz in injury time when Darren Mattocks rose unchallenged to connect with a Michael Hector cross from the right -- but saw his header from 10 yards go over the bar.