Paraguay beat Turkiye to stay in contention as Almiron sees red

SANTA CLARA: Paraguay kept their World Cup campaign alive with a 1-0 victory over Turkiye on Friday, a result that also confirmed co-hosts the United States as Group D winners. The defeat left Turkiye out of contention, becoming the second side after Haiti to be eliminated from the tournament.

Paraguay struck almost immediately through Matias Galarza, whose low effort from distance beat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir after just 63 seconds. That early goal proved enough in a game that later turned on discipline as Paraguay were reduced to 10 men before the break.

Miguel Almiron, the former Newcastle forward, was sent off in first-half stoppage time after covering his mouth while appearing to direct a comment at Turkiye defender Mert Muldur during an on-field confrontation. It was the first sending off in World Cup history for a player covering their mouth.

Turkiye pressed for an equaliser late on but could not find one. Deniz Gul squandered a clear opening in the 88th minute after Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill parried a shot into his path, with Gul stabbing his follow-up wide. Merih Demiral then glanced a header off target in the closing moments as Turkiye's players collapsed to the turf in disappointment at full-time.