Paraguay scored the fastest goal at this year’s World Cup, with Matias Galarza scoring 65 seconds into the game, and held on for a 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday after playing a man down for more than half the match.
Win Assures US Group D Victory
The win assured the United States would win Group D and eliminated Turkey from any chance of advancing to the knockout round with its second straight loss. Paraguay will face Australia in the final match of the group stage next Thursday with second place in the group on the line.
Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almiron was issued a red card late in the first half for violating a new rule banning players from covering their mouth during a confrontation. However, goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead in a game where Turkey had a 32-7 edge in shot attempts at goal.
Paraguay bounced back from a 4-1 loss in the opener against the U.S. team thanks in part to a lineup change made by Gustavo Alfaro. Galarza, who plays for Atlanta United of the MLS, was put into the starting lineup after sitting out the opener and rewarded his coach when he sent a left-footed shot from about 25 yards into the net just 1:05 into the game.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
