A goal by Galarza just two minutes in, combined with Almirón’s ejection, set the stage for Paraguay’s hard-fought victory over Turkey, keeping their hopes alive for the 2026 World Cup.
In cool weather in Santa Clara, California, the stadium was packed to the rafters, mostly with Turkish fans who left heartbroken after witnessing their team’s second loss of the tournament.
After the goal, Paraguay sat deep in a style reminiscent of a Copa Libertadores match, fighting tooth and nail, making tough tackles, and weathering the Turkish onslaught.
Almirón’s Ejection Under the ‘Vinicius Rule’
Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón became the first player to receive a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, after being sent off during an altercation late in the first half against Turkey on Friday night.
The incident occurred during stoppage time in the first half of the Group D match, when Almirón and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almirón covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Iván Barton, demanding a penalty.
Barton consulted the video assistant referee (VAR) and quickly ruled that Almirón would receive a red card and be sent off under a new rule implemented for this year’s World Cup.
Paraguay was leading 1-0 at the time.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for this new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni attempted to conceal verbal insults directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match.
The Match
Matías Galarza scored 65 seconds into the game to record the fastest goal of the World Cup so far, and Paraguay fought tooth and nail to secure a 1-0 victory over Turkey on Friday night, after playing with one man down for more than half the match.
La Albirroja found themselves a man down after Miguel Almirón received a red card in the closing minutes of the first half, penalized for violating the new FIFA rule that prohibits players from covering their mouths during an altercation. However, goalkeeper Orlando Gill emerged as the hero with a series of key saves to preserve the South American team’s lead.
This result ensured that the United States secured first place in Group D and eliminated Turkey from any chance of advancing to the round of 16. For its part, Paraguay will be playing for its life and second place in the group next Thursday, when it faces Australia in the final match of the group stage.
Paraguay managed to bounce back from the tough blow of a 4-1 loss to the United States in its opener, thanks in large part to a lineup change by coach Gustavo Alfaro. Galarza, a midfielder for Atlanta United of the MLS, was named to the starting lineup after sitting on the bench in the first match. The player immediately rewarded his coach’s faith: just 1:05 into the game, he unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from about 25 meters that found the back of the net and sent the Guaraní fans into a frenzy.
Turkey came close to equalizing later in the first half, but a header by Mert Müldür off a free kick hit the crossbar and the post in a stroke of bad luck.
Turkish Dominance Without Effectiveness and the Wall Called Gill
Turkey once again dominated possession for the second consecutive match, but once again lacked decisiveness. After falling 2-0 in their opener against Australia, this latest defeat ensures a short and bitter stay for the Ottomans in their first World Cup appearance in 24 years, as they failed in their attempt to replicate that historic third-place finish achieved at Korea-Japan 2002.
In the second half, the Paraguayan wall was impenetrable. Orlando Gill reacted brilliantly to a dangerous deflection off a shot by Merih Demiral early in the second half, and shone again midway through the half by stopping a long-range rocket from Abdülkerim Bardakcı.
In the final minutes, Gill denied a goal by blocking a point-blank shot from Can Uzun; the rebound fell to Deniz Gül, who sent the ball wide. Turkey’s last hope vanished in stoppage time when a header by Demiral sailed wide of the goal, sealing the Albirroja’s agonizing yet valuable victory.
