In a thrilling encounter in the South American World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay stunned reigning world champions Argentina with a 2-1 victory at home on Thursday.
Antonio Sanabria’s spectacular bicycle kick and Omar Alderete’s decisive header secured a crucial win for the hosts in front of an electric crowd.
Argentina struck first, taking an early lead in the 11th minute. Enzo Fernandez’s pinpoint pass found Lautaro Martinez, who blasted the ball past the Paraguayan goalkeeper. Initially ruled offside, the goal was awarded after a VAR review.
The early setback didn’t deter Paraguay, who nearly equalized moments later. Gustavo Gomez’s powerful header rattled the crossbar, setting the tone for the hosts’ determination. Minutes later, Gustavo Velazquez delivered a precise cross to Antonio Sanabria, who delivered a jaw-dropping overhead kick, leaving Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez helpless.
The equalizer shook Argentina, with Lionel Messi unable to impose his usual influence. The Argentine captain, marked tightly throughout the match, managed just one wayward shot in the first half. Messi’s frustration grew as he endured physical challenges, notably from Alderete, who narrowly avoided a second yellow card before halftime.
Paraguay struck again just after the break. Two minutes into the second half, Alderete rose highest to head in a free kick, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Argentina following a foul by substitute Leonardo Balerdi on Julio Enciso. The goal energized the hosts and compounded Argentina’s woes.
Despite enjoying spells of possession, Argentina struggled to break down Paraguay’s resolute defense. Rodrigo de Paul squandered a golden opportunity to equalize 20 minutes from time, miscontrolling the ball during a breakaway before sending his shot wide.
Reflecting on the loss, Lautaro Martinez acknowledged Argentina’s defensive errors, particularly during set pieces. “I think, overall, we played a great game. We controlled the ball. Their goals came from two of our mistakes. We need to fix our lapses on set pieces,” Martinez told TyC Sports.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni echoed the sentiment, commending Paraguay’s defensive resilience. “The (goal) at the start of the second half made everything more difficult. We have to congratulate the opponent, who defended very well,” he said.
Despite the loss, Argentina remains atop the standings with 22 points from 11 games. Paraguay’s victory lifts them to sixth place, level on 16 points with Ecuador and Uruguay. Both teams continue their qualification campaigns next week, with Argentina hosting Peru and Paraguay traveling to Venezuela.
