In an impressive display during the South American World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay secured a 2-1 victory against Argentina at home on Thursday. The match started with Argentina taking an early lead, as Lautaro Martinez scored just 11 minutes in. However, Paraguay quickly responded when Eduardo Sanabria delivered a breathtaking bicycle kick after a cross from Gustavo Velazquez, leveling the score and leaving Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, with no chance.
Following the halftime break, Paraguay continued to capitalize on their momentum. Just two minutes into the second half, defender Omar Alderete scored a header from a free kick awarded after a foul by substitute Leonardo Balerdi against Julio Enciso, giving Paraguay a 2-1 advantage.
Despite being the reigning World Cup champions, Argentina struggled to regain their footing after conceding the equalizer and then the decisive goal. Currently, Argentina sits at the top of the standings with 22 points from 11 matches. Meanwhile, Paraguay climbed to sixth place, tying with Uruguay at 16 points as they await Uruguay’s match on Friday. The top six teams in the qualifiers will secure spots in the 2026 World Cup, leaving Paraguay in a promising position.
This victory showcases Paraguay’s tenacity and skill, particularly with Sanabria’s remarkable goal and Alderete’s crucial contributions. It also adds excitement to the qualifiers as teams vie for spots in the upcoming World Cup, highlighting the competitiveness of South American football.