SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Matías Galarza scored 65 seconds into the game for the fastest goal at this year’s World Cup and Paraguay held on for a 1-0 win over Türkiye on Friday night after playing a man down for more than half the match.
The win assured the United States would win Group D and eliminated Türkiye from any chance of advancing to the knockout round with its second straight loss. Paraguay will face Australia in the final match of the group stage next Thursday with second place in the group on the line.
Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almirón was issued a red card late in the first half for violating a new rule banning players from covering their mouth during a confrontation. But goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead.
Paraguay bounced back from a 4-1 loss in the opener against the U.S. team thanks in part 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 net just 1:05 into the game.
Read more:Aguirre relishes Azteca knockout matches after Mexico win Group A
Türkiye nearly got the equalizer later in the first half but Mert Müldür’s header off a free kick hit the cross bar and goal post.
Muldur was in the middle of the confrontation in stoppage time in the first half that led to Galarza’s ejection.
Almirón and Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almirón covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
Read more:Christian Pulisic (calf) out of USMNT’s World Cup clash with Australia
Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be given a red card and ejected under a new rule put in place for this year’s World Cup.
Türkiye dominated possession for a second straight match but once again it wasn’t enough as the Turks followed up the 2-0 loss to Australia with another defeat that assures they will have a short stay in their first World Cup appearance in 24 years.
Türkiye qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2002 but was unable to repeat the same kind of run that year that led to a third-place finish despite entering the tournament as a favorite to advance from the group.
Read more:Alex Freeman goal for U.S. ‘full-circle family moment’ with dad
Orlando Gill made a save on a tricky deflection on a shot by Merih Demiral early in the second half and again on a long range attempt from Abdülkerim Bardakçi midway through the half to preserve the lead. Gill then stopped Can Uzun from in close late in the half and Deniz Gül sent the rebound wide.
Merih Demiral’s header late in stoppage time went wide, ending Türkiye’s last hope.
