By Dwayne Ferreira.
Ten-man Paraguay survive a furious Turkey fightback after Matías Galarza scores in 64 seconds, sealing a dramatic 1-0 World Cup victory.
Ten-man Paraguay eliminated Türkiye from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Matías Galarza scored in only 64 seconds and his teammates survived a relentless second-half siege to claim a dramatic 1-0 victory.
Both teams entered the Group D meeting under pressure after losing their opening matches. Paraguay had suffered a 4-1 defeat against the United States, while Türkiye were beaten 2-0 by Australia.
The contest changed almost immediately. Paraguay moved the ball quickly from kickoff before Julio Enciso helped create space for Galarza, whose powerful long-range strike flew beyond the goalkeeper.
The goal was the fastest of the 2026 tournament at that stage and gave Paraguay the perfect platform. Türkiye, suddenly facing elimination, were forced to chase the match for virtually the entire evening.
Paraguay initially defended with organisation and attempted to threaten on the counterattack. Enciso’s movement and Galarza’s midfield energy gave the South American side opportunities to advance whenever Türkiye committed players forward.
The momentum shifted dramatically shortly before halftime. Miguel Almirón was shown a red card in stoppage time, reducing Paraguay to ten men and giving Türkiye an entire second half to exploit their numerical advantage.
Türkiye dominated possession after the interval and repeatedly pushed Paraguay towards their own penalty area. Crosses, shots and set pieces arrived in waves, but the Turkish attack lacked the composure required to turn pressure into an equaliser.
Paraguay’s defenders protected the centre of the box with extraordinary determination. Every clearance and blocked shot increased the tension as the South Americans attempted to preserve a lead established almost an hour earlier.
The goalkeeper also produced important interventions as Türkiye searched desperately for a route back into the contest. Paraguay’s attacking ambition disappeared almost completely, but their defensive discipline never did.
Türkiye continued attacking until the final whistle, yet the equalising goal never arrived. The defeat left them without a point after two matches and confirmed that their World Cup campaign would end after the group stage.
Paraguay’s victory revived their qualification hopes and moved them level with Australia on three points. The United States’ six-point total had already placed the co-hosts in control of the group.
Paraguay now face Australia on June 25 in a direct contest that could determine second place. Their ability to survive with ten men may prove to be the defining moment of their campaign.
Türkiye conclude against the United States on the same day. Although elimination has been confirmed, they will attempt to leave the competition with a performance that better reflects the talent within their squad.
MATCH SUMMARY
Türkiye – 0
Paraguay – 1
Matías Galarza 2’
Red card: Miguel Almirón 45+3’
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Result: Paraguay won 1-0
#Paraguay #Turkey #Turkiye #MatiasGalarza #MiguelAlmiron #WorldCup2026 #FIFAWorldCup #GroupD #ParaguayFootball #FootballNews #WorldCupDrama #TheMorningTelegraph
