Despite playing with ten players for approximately 55 minutes, the Paraguayan national team defeated Turkey 1-0 and gained significant hopes of qualifying for the “32” from the 4th group of the competition.

    After just 64 seconds, Matias Galarza unleashed a “thunderbolt” from 25 meters and sent the ball into Cakir’s net, scoring the fastest goal of this year’s competition.

    In the first half, the numerical balance changed, as Miguel Almiron was sent off for putting his hand in his mouth in a confrontation with the Turkish Mert Muldur. This is a “historic” red card, as the Paraguayan midfielder is the first footballer to violate this new regulation.

    In the second half, the Turkish internationals were “stormy” with close to 75% ball possession and many goal opportunities, but they failed to score, resulting in them saying goodbye to the World Cup, while the South Americans maintained their hopes of qualifying for the next phase.

    Referee: I. Barton (El Salvador)
    Yellows: Modela (off the field), Elmali – Galarza
    Reds: Almiron
    Lineups:

    TURKEY (Vicenzo Modella): Cakir, Muldur, Demiral, Bardakci, Kandioglu (71′ Elmali), Calhanoglu, Yuksek (60′ Uzun), Guler, Akgun (60′ Gul), Yildiz, Akturkoglu (46′ Yilmaz).

    PARAGUAY (Gustavo Alfaro): Hill, Caceres (Maidana), Gomez, Alderete, Alonso, Almiron, Cubas, Galarza, Diego Gomez (67′ Velasquez), Pita (46′ Bobadilla), Enciso.