The 10-man Paraguay claimed a hard fought 1-0 win over Turkey in their second Group D clash at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. After enduring a tough 4-1 loss against USA, the South American side made a strong comeback in their second clash by scoring a goal in the first minute of the game before facing an unfortunate red-card. However, the South American side maintained their discipline to become victorious.
Thrilling first-half
The first-half of the game was absolutely thrilling, as 10-man Paraguay secured a 1-0 lead against the attacking Turkey in the key Group D clash. Coming after a disappointing 4-1 loss to USA, La Albirroja stunned Turkey just 65 into the game, as midfielder Matias Galarza banked onto a stunning pass from Julio Enciso to score the opening goal. Surprised with an early setback, the Turkish side stamped their authority on the game, with a staggering 78 percent of the ball, which led to an attacking barrage that created a diving header bounce off the crossbar.
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However, the game took a shocking turn when the game reached the stoppage time of the first half when a heated confrontation took place. After the VAR check, Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was shown a straight red card for talking with his mouth covered during the altercation, leaving his side in front of a lethal Turkish attack, a man down for the entirety of the second half.
Determined performance from Paraguay in the second half
Banking on their one-man advantage, a lethal Turkey dropped a thrilling performance in the second-half. However, the spirited side of Paraguay gave their everything to defend their lead of one goal over Turkey, with multiple chances were saved by the solid defending. In the end, the South American side won an important win to stay alive in the competition.
Next challenge for Paraguay
After securing a win against Turkey, Paraguay will lock horns against Australia in their upcoming Group D clash at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday, June 25 at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It will be interesting to see if Paraguay can make their place in the knockouts.