Ten-man Paraguay produced a spirited defensive display to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory over Turkey on Friday, despite playing more than half the match with a numerical disadvantage.
The decisive moment came after just 64 seconds when midfielder Matías Galarza unleashed a powerful 25-metre strike that flew into the net, marking the fastest goal of the tournament so far.
The effort surpassed Ismael Saibari’s 71-second opener in Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland earlier in the day.
Paraguay were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when midfielder Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card following an altercation with Turkey’s Mert Müldür, reportedly for covering his mouth during a confrontation — the first dismissal under the tournament’s new rule.
Despite the setback, Paraguay held firm under sustained pressure from Turkey, absorbing wave after wave of attacks to secure a remarkable turnaround after their opening 4-1 defeat to the United States.
