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Updated : Nov 15, 2024 07:26 IST
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Omar Alderete of Paraguay celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Paraguay and Argentina. | Photo Credit: Christian Alvarenga
Welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier between Paraguay and Argentina taking place at Asuncion.
A determined performance from Paraguay at home sees it upset the table topper and World Champion Argentina.
The point of contention will continue to be Alderete’s second yellow which wasn’t given. To make matters worse the defender went on to score the winner early in the second half. Argentina remains top with 22 points while Paraguay too stays sixth with 16.
Ball into Garnacho down left. Tagliafico puts a cross in but it is dealt with easily. And there goes the final whistle!! PAR 2 – 1 ARG at full time!
Argentina lose possession after a forward pass to the rushing Tagliafico. Paraguay get a foul near the edge of the left-side touchline.
Almiron makes his way out to big applause from the crowd. Was possibly the best player on the pitch today. Kaku replaces him.
6 mins of stoppage time added.
Cross into the box from Tagliafico with Montiel making a late run. Headed away for an Argentina corner. Deep delivery by Messi, past the outstretched arm of the keeper into Castellanos at the far post, but he can’t get any control on the header to guide it goalwards.
Argentina gives the ball away in the middle of the pitch again. Martinez rams into the back of Romero and gives away a foul.
Castellanos replaces Alvarex.
Enciso is down in a heap after Otamendi kicks out at him after the former tries to stop a quick free kick. A yellow card shown to him.
Quick passing at the edge of the box for the visitor. The ball is laid off for Messi whose shot is palmed away for a corner. Nothing comes off it though.
Paredes and Montiel replace Enzo and Molina for Argentina.
Garnacho more involved in play now. Plays a cut back from the left. Martinez looks to make toom and shoot but is closed down quickly.
Quick counter from Paraguay. Enciso played through in the box and his cut back is put out for a corner. No danger from it though as Alderete gets a tame header wide.
Much more urgency from Argentina now. More control over possession as well. Garnacho in ample space down the left but the attack is very much central for now.
Argentina counter after the free kick in is cleared. Quick counter and Alvarez finds the rampaging De Paul in acres of space down the right. He blazes his shot over the bar though!
Enzo gives the ball away in the middle of the pitch. Sanabria tries to shield the ball away from the central defenders and manages to get a foul out of Otamendi.
Alejandro Garnacho replaces Alexis Mac Allister. He will move to the left wing with Alvarez moving to the centre.
Messi takes a free kick from 50 yards out, Otamendi takes a tumble in the box trying ti get at the end of it. Referee waves all the complaints away. Fell down a little too easily the centre back.
Corner for Paraguay, Diego Gomez puts a deep cross in, headed back to the crowded area but nobody there to utilise the chance.
A long diagonal into Molina again. He looks to get a cross in first time but gets it horribly wrong.
Sanabria with space in the box. Cuts back and attempts to dive in and get away a header. But Martinez rushed off his line to smother the ball.
Cubas now gets a yellow card for a challenge from behind.
GOAL!! Alderete scores! The freekick is put into a dangerous area and Alderete guides a header in to the corner of the goal. Messi and Argentina will be furious that he’s still on the pitch!
PAR 2 – 1 ARG
Quick start from Paraguay. Enciso is brought down near the left flank. Balerdi replaces Romero at HT.
Three minutes of stoppage time added. Enciso finds space in the box, a couple of dribbles and he looks to play a pass into the box. Cleared away by the defence though. Half Time!
Messi has a go at the referee. Unhappy that Alderete wasn’t given a second yellow for a foul on him.
A small delay in proceedings as Almiron is being treated by the doctors. Looks okay to continue.
Molina loses the ball in the right flank. Almiron begins the counter attack. Three v two in the defence but Almiron’s attempted cross in is blocked easily and lobs up to Martinez in goal.
A Paraguay attacking move after a while. A cross in from the right is cleared by the defence easily. Argentina looks for a quick counter and Messi is brought down again by Alderete.
Alderete is cautioned for a late lunge on Messi, first card of the game.
Messi lobs one into the path of Alvarez but the striker can’t get it under control. The move began with Tagliafico winning possession back high up the pitch.
Messi drops slightly back into the midfield to recycle possession. A long diagonal to the right finds Molina in space who plays a low first time cross in. Cleared away by the last line of defence.
Ball richochets off Messi and into the path of Molina who looks to play a cut back to the captain at the edge of the box. Messi doesn’t get the connection right on the shot and it lobs over the post harmlessly.
Paraguay looking more attacking at the moment. Argentina looking to get back some midfield control it had during the early stages.
Alderete’s near post flick is deflected behind again.
GOAL!! Stunner! Sanabria brings out the overhead kick to equalise for Paraguay! Excellent finish following a cross in from the right after the header from the corner thud against the crossbar.
PAR 1 – 1 ARG
Diego Gomez puts in a dangerous cross from the left, flies just past Sanabria. Alonso manages to get a corner on the left flank.
Paraguay looks for the immediate response. A press from the front by its attackers but Sanabria is judged to have fouled his man.
Martinez rifles a low shot into the net after a lobbed pass past the defence from Enzo. The flag immediately goes up for offside.
A VAR check underway and after drawing up the lines they have awarded Argentina the opener.
PAR 0 – 1 ARG
Almiron looks for a scissor kick following a cross in from the left, hits it straight at Tagliafico’s face and the danger is averted.
Corner for Paraguay after a quick break. Played short towards Diego Gomez, and his first-time shot is deflected wide.
An incisive pass from Fernandez finds Tagliafico in behind the defence on the left wing, Velasquez does well to shove the left back out of the way.
First real incision into the final third, excellent one touch football on the left flank, starting the move. Martinez cuts on back to the penalty spot but there are no takers.
After a good start, Otamendi plays a wayward pass into Alvarez and puts the ball into touch. Paraguay looks to play a long ball forward but the flag is raised for offside.
Argentina gets us underway in Asuncion, kicking from left to right. Good early possession for the World Champion with De Paul at the centre of it.
Argentina: Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Messi (C), L. Martinez, Alvarez
Paraguay: Fernandez, Velasquez, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso, D. Gomez, Cubas, Bobadilla, Almiron, Sanabria, Enciso
Played: 7
Argentina wins: 3
Draws: 3
Paraguay wins: 1
Argentina and will have one of its leading star available again as South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup resumes with the last two rounds of games this year.
The Defending World Cup champion will once again count on goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who was suspended for two international matches in October.
Argentina currently has 22 points, three more than Colombia, with Uruguay and Brazil third and fourth with 16 points each. Ecuador and Paraguay, with 13 points, complete the top six which are direct spots in the next World Cup.
Argentina can move even closer to a spot at the World Cup by beating Paraguay and Peru.
Captain Lionel Messi will be his team’s best hope for goals once again after his hat trick and two assists in the 6-0 win against Bolivia in October, with the 37-year-old the top scorer in the current South American qualifying.
Argentina will travel to Asuncion with an additional challenge since Paraguay has been unbeaten since coach Gustavo Alfaro, an Argentine, took over in the middle of the year.
– AP
The Paraguay vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifying match will not be available for telecast in India. The match can be streamed live on the Fancode app and website.
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Paraguay and Argentina. Stay Tuned for live updates and commentary from the CONMEBOL qualifier match!
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