Paraguay strengthened their chances of reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stages with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye in a tense Group D encounter.
The South Americans struck what proved to be the decisive blow inside just two minutes, with midfielder Matías Galarza finding the net after being set up by Julio Enciso. The early goal stunned Türkiye and gave Paraguay a lead they would defend resolutely for the remainder of the contest.
Galarza, who continued to trouble the Turkish defence, was booked shortly after opening the scoring, while Paraguay maintained their discipline and organisation to frustrate their opponents.
Türkiye struggled to recover from the early setback despite enjoying long spells of possession. Their efforts to find an equaliser were repeatedly thwarted by Paraguay’s well-drilled defensive unit, which stood firm under increasing pressure.
There was further drama deep into first-half stoppage time when a VAR review involving Paraguay captain Miguel Almirón briefly halted play. However, the decision ultimately went in Paraguay’s favour, allowing them to preserve their slender advantage heading into the break.
Türkiye coach Vincenzo Montella cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his side searched for a way back into the match. The European side pushed forward after the interval, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third proved costly.
Tempers occasionally flared during a fiercely contested second half, with defender Eren Elmalı among those shown a yellow card as Türkiye’s frustrations grew.
Despite their relentless efforts, Türkiye could not find a breakthrough, and Paraguay comfortably saw out the closing stages to secure all three points.
The victory represents a significant response from Paraguay following their heavy defeat to the United States earlier in the tournament and leaves them firmly in contention for a place in the knockout rounds.
For Türkiye, a second consecutive defeat leaves their World Cup campaign hanging in the balance ahead of a crucial final Group D fixture against the United States.
Paraguay, meanwhile, will head into their final group match against Australia full of confidence, knowing another positive result could secure progression to the next stage of the competition.
