Turkey touched down in San Francisco with their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. Ninety tense minutes later, those hopes had vanished, while Paraguay celebrated a gritty victory that could yet define their tournament.
Matías Galarza’s stunning strike after just 65 seconds proved enough to secure a 1-0 win for Paraguay in a match packed with drama, controversy and frustration. The result eliminated Turkey from the competition and left Paraguay with everything to play for heading into their final group game against Australia.
The decisive moment came almost immediately. Julio Enciso, one of Paraguay’s brightest talents, produced a clever flick to release Galarza, who drilled a low effort into the bottom corner from distance. It was the fastest goal of the tournament and set the tone for a night of tension.
Turkey responded well and thought they had found a route back into the contest. Mert Müldür came agonisingly close when his header struck both the crossbar and post before bouncing clear. It was the first sign that luck would not be on Turkey’s side.
The match then took an extraordinary turn before half-time. Miguel Almirón became the first player sent off under a new regulation after covering his mouth while speaking during a confrontation with an opponent. Following a VAR review, the former Newcastle United midfielder received a straight red card, leaving Paraguay to defend their lead with ten men for the entire second half.
What followed was a siege.
Turkey dominated possession and created chance after chance, yet Orlando Gill produced a goalkeeping display full of courage and composure. Can Uzun, Deniz Gül and Merih Demiral all came close, but none could find a breakthrough.
The statistics told a painful story. Turkey finished the tournament with 62 shots across two matches and failed to score a single goal. For a side many tipped as dark horses, it was a remarkable collapse.
Arda Güler summed up the disappointment afterwards. “We should have won these games so apologies to the Turkish people,” he admitted.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella shared similar emotions. “I’m sad but I’m also very proud of my players,” he said. “They gave absolutely everything right up until the final whistle.”
For Paraguay, the victory was built on resilience. Enciso excelled, creating chances, winning duels and carrying his side forward whenever possible. Galarza, meanwhile, delivered the moment that separated the teams.
“It’s unforgettable,” said the match winner. “This is the most beautiful stage in the world.”
Paraguay now march on with belief. Turkey head home wondering how so many chances produced so little reward.
