2 hours ago
Ten-man Paraguay scored nan fastest extremity of nan World Cup truthful acold to hit a hapless Turkey 1-0 successful a melodramatic Group D match, breathing life into their run and condemning their opponents to a miserable early exit.
Fired up aft their humiliating 4-1 opening lucifer conclusion by nan USA, Paraguay went up 64 seconds successful erstwhile Matías Galarza rifled successful a long-range shot, past clung connected for nan full crippled against a tide of Turkish attacks.
Spurred connected to nan sound of beating drums successful nan San Francisco Bay Area, Paraguay defended resolutely to withstand nan Turkish onslaught and played nan 2nd half pinch 10 men, aft Miguel Almirón was sent disconnected for remarks made to Mert Muldur pinch his manus covering his mouth.
The triumph by nan South Americans intends nan United States were confirmed arsenic Group D winners aft their earlier 2-0 triumph complete Australia successful Seattle. The Socceroos and Paraguay will play for 2nd spot successful their lucifer adjacent week.
Turkey dominated nan match, pinch 79% possession astatine 1 constituent but they paid nan heaviest of prices for their atrocious finishing, logging 32 attempts but nary goals successful almost a c transcript of their high-shooting opening lucifer nonaccomplishment to Australia.
Turkey were inventive and ever threatening but fell isolated successful beforehand of goal, pinch a slew of chances for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz and Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, but Paraguay defended solidly and looked vulnerable connected nan break successful their fewer chances.
Paraguay, known arsenic “La Albirroja“, past played successful nan World Cup successful 2010, wherever they were eliminated by eventual champions Spain successful nan quarter-final successful their best-ever tally in nan tournament.
Goalscorer Galarza said it was 1 of nan champion days of his life.
“We showed our value fighting spirits moreover pinch one subordinate down. God wanted this to hap for Paraguay much than ever before,” he said.
Turkey’s coach Vincenzo Montella said his players fought to enactment successful nan tourney and it was an result everyone had to accept.
“I’m sad but I’m besides very proud of my players. They gave everything correct up until nan last whistle. That’s what football’s like,” he said.
