Paraguay secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Turkey in their World Cup group stage match held in San Francisco on Sunday, a result that leaves Turkey eliminated from the tournament. The win was crucial for Paraguay, who needed points to keep their chances of progressing alive.

The match featured intense moments, particularly in the second half, as Turkey pressed hard to find an equalizer. Despite having a numerical advantage following Paraguay’s Ángel Almiron being sent off shortly before halftime under a newly implemented FIFA rule, Turkey was unable to capitalize. The sending off was linked to a rule introduced after an incident earlier this year involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in a Champions League match; although UEFA found insufficient evidence for racial abuse, Prestianni was nonetheless banned for using a homophobic slur during that incident.

Turkey’s coach Vincenzo Montella acknowledged the setback, expressing optimism that the team would learn and grow from the experience. “I’m sure that this lesson will certainly allow us to improve as a team. This disappointment, this bitterness – we will improve going forward,” Montella said.

Throughout the match, Turkey created several chances. They came close to an equalizer in the 33rd minute, while a header from Muldur off a free kick rattled the goalpost. However, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill was instrumental in preserving his team’s lead, making key saves including one from Abdulkerim Bardakci and denying Uzun during a critical moment when Deniz Gul’s rebound attempt went wide.

Paraguay’s decisive goal came from Julio Enciso, who capitalized on the attacking opportunity by firing a powerful low shot into the bottom corner, securing all three points for his team. After the final whistle, Gill emphasized the importance of the victory, stating, “It was an important win. We knew we had to get those three points by any means and thankfully we managed to take them.”

With this defeat, Turkey has been mathematically eliminated from the tournament, as they are set to finish at the bottom of their group following losses in their first two matches. Paraguay, meanwhile, retains hope of advancing depending on results in their remaining fixtures.