Paraguay beats Turkey despite being down a person

SANTA CLARA, California— Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds into the sport for the fastest goal at this yr’s World Cup and Paraguay held on for a 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday after playing a person down for greater than half the match.

The win assured the US would win Group D and eliminated Turkey from any probability of advancing to the knockout round with its second straight loss. Paraguay will face Australia in the ultimate match of the group stage next Thursday with second place within the group on the road. Paraguay might want to win to complete second.

“It’s unforgettable,” Galarza said. “That is essentially the most beautiful stage on this planet, playing amongst the most effective. I’m so proud. I hope that Paraguay is glad.”

Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almiron was issued a red card late in the primary half for violating a brand new rule banning players from covering their mouth during a confrontation.

But goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead in a game when Turkey 32-7 edge in shot attempts at goal.

Referee Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros, of El Salvador, signals to ask for a VAR review before issuing a red card to Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron (10) through the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and Paraguay in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

“It was very hard,” midfielder Andres Cubas said. “These games are very tough, especially one man down. We’ve to spotlight the good group effort and commitment we showed as a team to maintain fighting and do that until the tip.”

Paraguay bounced back from a 4-1 loss within the opener against the U.S. team thanks partly to a lineup change made by Gustavo Alfaro. Galarza, who plays for Atlanta United of the MLS, was put into the starting lineup after sitting out the opener and rewarded his coach when he sent a left-footed shot from about 25 yards into the online just 1:05 into the sport.

Turkey nearly got the equalizer later in the primary half but Mert Muldur’s header off a free kick hit the cross bar and goal post.

Muldur was in the course of the confrontation in stoppage time in the primary half that led to Galarza’s ejection.

Almiron and Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.

Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron could be given a red card and ejected under a brand new rule put in place for this yr’s World Cup.

Turkey dominated possession for a second straight match but once more it wasn’t enough because the Turks followed up the 2-0 loss to Australia with one other defeat that assures they’ll have a brief stay of their first World Cup appearance in 24 years.

Turkey qualified for the tournament for the primary time since 2002 and had high hopes after reaching the quarterfinals of the European championships two years ago but was unable to advance despite entering the tournament as a favourite to advance from the group.

Turkish midfielder Arda Guler called his team’s performance on the World Cup “embarrassing.” The 62 shots in two games for the Turks are essentially the most in any two-game span without scoring so far as records return to 1966, in keeping with Opta Stats.

“We must always have scored some goals,” Guler said. “We must always have won these games so apologies to the Turkish people.”

Orlando Gill made a save on a difficult deflection on a shot by Merih Demiral early within the second half and again on an extended range attempt from Abdulkerim Bardakci midway through the half to preserve the lead. Gill then stopped Can Uzun from in close late within the half and Deniz Gul sent the rebound wide.

Merih Demiral’s header late in stoppage time went wide, ending Turkey’s last hope.

“I’m sad,” Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella. “I’m sad but I’m also very happy with my players. They gave absolutely every part right up until the ultimate whistle. That’s what football is like. … We got here very near equalizing but you furthermore may need to simply accept situations like this.”