Türkiye vs Paraguay: Winners & losers - Galarza stuns as ten men hold

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GOAL

·20. Juni 2026

Türkiye vs Paraguay: Winners & losers - Galarza stuns as ten men hold

Paraguay pulled off a remarkable 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men for over 45 minutes, with Matías Galarza Fonda's second-minute strike proving decisive. Türkiye dominated possession and generated numerous chances but failed to score, confirming their elimination from the World Cup. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Türkiye v Paraguay.

Winners

Matías Galarza Fonda (Paraguay)

Matías Galarza Fonda delivered the match-winning moment just two minutes into the contest. Receiving Julio Enciso's layoff outside the box, he adjusted onto his left foot and struck a well-placed shot into the bottom corner that gave the goalkeeper no chance. It was a goal that set the tone for everything that followed.

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Despite receiving a yellow card just two minutes after his goal for a challenge on Yunus Akgün, Galarza showed discipline to avoid a second booking while remaining committed defensively. He tracked back throughout the match, won possession in midfield, and contributed to Paraguay's rearguard action against relentless Turkish pressure.

His early strike forced Türkiye to chase the game from the outset, a task that became even more difficult after Almirón's dismissal left Paraguay with ten men. Galarza's contribution extended beyond the goal itself; his willingness to work defensively while on a booking helped his team protect their slender advantage until the final whistle.

Orlando Gill (Paraguay)

Orlando Gill produced a match-winning goalkeeping display to secure Paraguay's clean sheet against sustained Turkish pressure. With his team reduced to ten men for the entire second half, he became the last line of a resistance that refused to break, making several crucial saves when his side needed them most.

His finest moment came in the 89th minute when Can Uzun struck a low shot towards the bottom left corner. Gill dived to his left to make an excellent save, then watched Deniz Gül blaze the rebound wide from point-blank range. Earlier, he had denied Merih Demiral twice and parried Abdülkerim Bardakcı's effort in the 74th minute.

Gill's interventions proved the difference between survival and collapse. Türkiye generated chance after chance but found the Paraguayan goalkeeper equal to every test. His commanding presence during set pieces and composure under relentless pressure allowed his outfield teammates to maintain their defensive structure despite their numerical disadvantage.

Loser

Deniz Gül (Türkiye)

Deniz Gül endured a frustrating cameo that encapsulated Türkiye's evening of missed opportunities. Introduced in the 60th minute to provide a striker's presence, he failed to convert the chances that fell his way when his team needed a goal most, missing two significant opportunities inside the box.

His defining moment came in the 89th minute when Orlando Gill's save from Can Uzun fell directly to his feet at point-blank range. With the goal gaping, Gül shot first-time with his left foot but sent his effort wide. Earlier, at 86 minutes, he failed to connect properly with a dangerous cross when well-positioned.

That close-range miss summed up Türkiye's night. A clinical finish would have levelled the score with time remaining; instead, Gül's wayward effort sent the chance spinning wide. For a striker brought on specifically to provide finishing prowess, his inability to convert from such close proximity was a decisive failure in a match his team could not afford to lose.