World Cup: Paraguay eliminates Turkey, Galarza scores fastest goal of the tournament at 64 seconds

2026 World Cup Key News

(CNA Taipei, June 20) -- In the 2026 World Cup football tournament, Paraguay secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Turkey today, thanks to Galarza's record-breaking fastest goal of the tournament. They managed to withstand the pressure after star player Almiron was sent off with a red card, narrowly keeping their hopes of advancing alive.

Paraguay, returning to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence, had lost their opening group matches against the USA and Australia respectively. Facing Turkey, who also sought their first win and a chance to advance, the match was intense from the start. Despite being statistically outmatched, Paraguay ultimately secured a vital win, eliminating Turkey from contention.

In the first half, both teams played at a fast pace. Just 64 seconds into the match, Galarza (Matias Galarza) scored a lightning goal with a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, quickly taking the lead and setting a new record for the fastest goal of this World Cup.

Following intense physical play, Turkey launched a counter-attack, repeatedly threatening Paraguay's goal. However, Paraguay's defense proved resilient, preventing any breakthroughs. Unexpectedly, during first-half stoppage time, Paraguay's star player Almiron (Miguel Almiron) received a red card for "talking with his mouth covered," becoming the first player in history to be sent off for such an offense.

Paraguay entered the second half a man down and was forced to adopt a defensive "iron barrel" formation against Turkey's aggressive offense. Nevertheless, Paraguay consistently thwarted their opponent's attacks, with goalkeeper Gill (Orlando Gill) playing a pivotal role. They ultimately held onto their lead, securing a valuable 3 points.

Paraguay was largely on the defensive throughout the match, with only 6 shots, 2 of which were on target, significantly fewer than Turkey's 33 shots, 6 on target. Their possession, pass count, and corner kicks were also considerably lower than their opponents. However, Paraguay's early goal led to an improbable victory. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150620

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