Paraguay Stuns Türkiye 1-0, Keeps World Cup Hopes Alive
Photo: REUTERS
Paraguay kept its World Cup dreams alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, officially ending the nation’s campaign in a high-stakes showdown in San Francisco.
The South Americans stunned the Turkish side with a strike just 64 seconds into the match. Andres Cubas ignited the play by stealing possession and quickly finding Julio Enciso, who threaded a pass to Matias Galarza.
Galarza then unleashed a low, left-footed drive that slipped through the legs of defender Merih Demiral and flew past the diving Ugurcan Cakir into the net.
Türkiye fought back desperately before the interval, nearly leveling the score when Mert Muldur hammered a header against both the crossbar and the post. However, the match took a historic and controversial turn during first-half stoppage time.
Miguel Almiron became the first player in tournament history to receive a red card under a new FIFA regulation that forbids players from covering their mouths during confrontational on-field disputes.
With Gustavo Alfaro’s squad reduced to ten men for the remainder of the game, the second half transformed into a relentless Turkish assault against a disciplined Paraguayan wall. Despite wave after wave of attacks, the Turkish stars failed to find the target.
Hakan Calhanoglu sent a volley wide of the mark, and Deniz Gul missed a golden opportunity with a close-range header. Even the usually precise Kenan Yildiz could not find his rhythm as the Paraguayan defense held firm until the final whistle.
The victory revitalizes Paraguay’s tournament prospects as they prepare for a decisive Group C clash against Australia on 25 June. Conversely, the defeat marks a disappointing exit for Türkiye, who are now officially eliminated from the competition.
