Paraguay earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkey at the World Cup on Friday, overcoming a second-half numerical disadvantage after playing with 10 men for much of the match.
Matias Galarza scored just 65 seconds after kickoff, registering the fastest goal of the tournament so far. The early strike proved decisive as Paraguay held firm despite relentless pressure from Turkey.
The result guaranteed the United States men's national soccer team top spot in Group D, while Turkey's second consecutive defeat ended its hopes of reaching the knockout stage. Paraguay will now face Australia national soccer team next Thursday in a match that will determine second place in the group.
Paraguay's task became more difficult late in the first half when captain Miguel Almirón was shown a red card for violating a newly introduced World Cup regulation that prohibits players from covering their mouths during confrontations.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Paraguay maintained its lead thanks largely to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who made a series of crucial saves. Turkey dominated attacking play and outshot Paraguay 32-7 but failed to find the net.
Paraguay rebounded strongly after its opening 4-1 defeat to the United States. Coach Gustavo Alfaro introduced Galarza into the starting lineup, and the midfielder quickly justified the decision by scoring from long range less than two minutes into the match.
Turkey came close to leveling the score before halftime when Mert Müldür struck both the crossbar and post with a header from a free kick.
The confrontation that led to Almirón's dismissal involved Müldür. Following a foul near midfield, the Paraguayan midfielder covered his mouth while speaking to his opponent. After a video review, referee Iván Barton issued a straight red card under the tournament's new disciplinary rules.
Turkey controlled possession throughout the match but once again lacked finishing quality. After also losing 2-0 to Australia, the team’s first World Cup appearance since 2002 will end in the group stage despite entering the tournament with high expectations.
Midfielder Arda Güler expressed disappointment with Turkey's performances, acknowledging that the team failed to convert its numerous chances. According to tournament statistics, Turkey has recorded 62 shots across two matches without scoring a goal.
Gill continued to frustrate Turkey in the second half, producing key saves against efforts from Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Can Uzun. A late header from Demiral narrowly missed the target, ending Turkey’s final chance of rescuing a point.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said he was disappointed by the result but praised his players for their determination and effort until the final whistle.