Paraguay vs Argentina, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL
· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOLFrustrated Argentina suffer shock defeat at Paraguay
A stunning bicycle kick from Antonio Sanabria and a second-half header from Omar Alderete gave Paraguay a well earned 2-1 home win over Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 3': Offside, Paraguay. Miguel Almirón is caught offside.
- 5': Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina).
- 5': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 7': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Rodrigo De Paul.
- 8': Attempt blocked. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
- 8': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Alexis Mac Allister.
- 9': Attempt blocked. Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Júnior Alonso with a cross.
- 10': Foul by Miguel Almirón (Paraguay).
- 10': Nahuel Molina (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 11': Goal! Paraguay 0, Argentina 1. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Enzo Fernández with a through ball.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
- 13': VAR Decision: Goal Paraguay 0-1 Argentina (Lautaro Martínez).
- 14': Foul by Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay).
- 14': Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 15': Foul by Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay).
- 15': Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 15': Hand ball by Damián Bobadilla (Paraguay).
- 18': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Nahuel Molina.
- 19': Attempt blocked. Omar Alderete (Paraguay) header from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Diego Gómez with a cross.
- 19': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.
- 19': Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Diego Gómez with a cross following a corner.
- 19': Goal! Paraguay 1, Argentina 1. Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gustavo Velázquez with a cross following a corner.
- 22': Foul by Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay).
- 22': Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 22': Foul by Nahuel Molina (Argentina).
- 22': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 23': Offside, Paraguay. Antonio Sanabria is caught offside.
- 25': Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nahuel Molina with a cross.
- 27': Foul by Julio Enciso (Paraguay).
- 27': Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 32': Attempt missed. Julián Alvarez (Argentina) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball.
- 33': Foul by Omar Alderete (Paraguay).
- 33': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 33': Omar Alderete (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 35': Offside, Argentina. Nicolás Tagliafico is caught offside.
- 37': Foul by Omar Alderete (Paraguay).
- 37': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 40': Attempt blocked. Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 42': Delay in match (Argentina).
- 43': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 44': Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Julián Alvarez.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': Delay in match (Argentina).
- 45'+2': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 45'+4': First Half ends, Paraguay 1, Argentina 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Paraguay 1, Argentina 1.
- 45': Substitution, Argentina. Leonardo Balerdi replaces Cristian Romero.
- 46': Foul by Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina).
- 46': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 47': Goal! Paraguay 2, Argentina 1. Omar Alderete (Paraguay) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Diego Gómez with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 49': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 49': Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 49': Andrés Cubas (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 51': Delay in match (Argentina).
- 52': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 53': Foul by Nahuel Molina (Argentina).
- 53': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 58': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico.
- 59': Foul by Omar Alderete (Paraguay).
- 59': Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 60': Foul by Julio Enciso (Paraguay).
- 60': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 64': Substitution, Argentina. Alejandro Garnacho replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
- 64': Foul by Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina).
- 64': Gustavo Velázquez (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 66': Foul by Damián Bobadilla (Paraguay).
- 66': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 68': Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 68': Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina).
- 69': Attempt missed. Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Julián Alvarez following a fast break.
- 70': Foul by Diego Gómez (Paraguay).
- 70': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 71': Foul by Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay).
- 71': Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 72': Substitution, Paraguay. Isidro Pitta replaces Antonio Sanabria.
- 72': Substitution, Paraguay. Ángel Romero replaces Diego Gómez.
- 73': Enzo Fernández (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 73': Foul by Isidro Pitta (Paraguay).
- 74': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Enzo Fernández.
- 75': Attempt missed. Omar Alderete (Paraguay) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
- 77': Substitution, Argentina. Leandro Paredes replaces Enzo Fernández.
- 78': Substitution, Argentina. Gonzalo Montiel replaces Nahuel Molina.
- 79': Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lautaro Martínez.
- 79': Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Damián Bobadilla.
- 80': Attempt missed. Leandro Paredes (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
- 81': Foul by Isidro Pitta (Paraguay).
- 81': Leandro Paredes (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 81': Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card.
- 82': Isidro Pitta (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 82': Substitution, Paraguay. Ramón Sosa replaces Julio Enciso.
- 82': Substitution, Paraguay. Mathías Villasanti replaces Damián Bobadilla.
- 83': Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina).
- 83': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 85': Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina).
- 85': Ramón Sosa (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 86': Substitution, Argentina. Valentín Castellanos replaces Julián Alvarez.
- 87': Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Júnior Alonso.
- 87': Attempt missed. Valentín Castellanos (Argentina) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a corner.
- 89': Foul by Isidro Pitta (Paraguay).
- 89': Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90': Substitution, Paraguay. Alejandro Romero replaces Miguel Almirón.
- 90': Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
- 90'+4': Foul by Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina).
- 90'+4': Ángel Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+5': Attempt missed. Valentín Castellanos (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
- 90'+6': Second Half ends, Paraguay 2, Argentina 1.
- 0': Match ends, Paraguay 2, Argentina 1.
Statistics
 ARG |
PAR |
|
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fouls | 17 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 2 | Corner Kicks | 6 |
| 0 | Saves | 0 |
| 76.8 | Possession | 23.2 |
| 9 | SHOTS | 8 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 2 |
| 0.1 | On Target % | 0.3 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 569 | Accurate Passes | 121 |
| 650 | Passes | 184 |
| 0.9 | Pass Completion % | 0.7 |
| 3 | Accurate Crosses | 9 |
| 11 | Crosses | 18 |
| 0.3 | Cross % | 0.5 |
| 54 | Long Balls | 50 |
| 28 | Accurate Long Balls | 23 |
| 0.5 | Long Balls % | 0.5 |
| 2 | Blocked Shots | 4 |
| 15 | Effective Tackles | 6 |
| 20 | Tackles | 13 |
| 0.8 | Tackle % | 0.5 |
| 4 | Interceptions | 17 |
| 11 | Effective Clearances | 13 |
| 11 | Clearances | 13 |
Game Information
Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL
Venue: Estadio ueno Defensores del Chaco
Location: Asunción, Paraguay
Attendance: 32,200
Venue: Estadio ueno Defensores del Chaco
Location: Asunción, Paraguay
Attendance: 32,200
WCQ - CONMEBOL Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 12 | +14 | 25 |
| 2 | Uruguay | 12 | +8 | 20 |
| 3 | Ecuador | 12 | +7 | 19 |
| 4 | Colombia | 12 | +5 | 19 |
Line-Ups
Paraguay (4-4-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 12 | Gatito Fernández (GK) |
| 3 | Omar Alderete  |
| 15 | Gustavo Gómez |
| 6 | Júnior Alonso |
| 2 | Gustavo Velázquez |
| 16 | Damián Bobadilla |
| 14 | Andrés Cubas |
| 10 | Miguel Almirón |
| 8 | Diego Gómez |
| 9 | Antonio Sanabria |
| 19 | Julio Enciso |
Argentina (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Emiliano Martínez (GK) |
| 19 | Nicolás Otamendi |
| 13 | Cristian Romero |
| 3 | Nicolás Tagliafico |
| 16 | Nahuel Molina |
| 20 | Alexis Mac Allister |
| 8 | Enzo Fernández |
| 7 | Rodrigo De Paul |
| 22 | Lautaro Martínez |
| 9 | Julián Álvarez |
| 10 | Lionel Messi |
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