FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL

Paraguay vs Argentina, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL

· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CONMEBOL
Paraguay
  • 19': Antonio Sanabria
  • 47': Omar Alderete
FT
2 - 1
Argentina
  • 11': Lautaro Martínez

Frustrated 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 Commentary

  • 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

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/arg.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originARG PARhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/par.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
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

WCQ - CONMEBOL Standings

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Argentina 12 +14 25
2 Uruguay 12 +8 20
3 Ecuador 12 +7 19
4 Colombia 12 +5 19
Full Standings

Line-Ups

PAR Paraguay (4-4-2)

No. Name
12 Gatito Fernández (GK)
3 Omar Alderete Yellow Card
15 Gustavo Gómez
6 Júnior Alonso
2 Gustavo Velázquez
16 Damián Bobadilla
14 Andrés Cubas Yellow Card
10 Miguel Almirón
8 Diego Gómez
9 Antonio Sanabria
19 Julio Enciso
Paraguay Substitutes:
Isidro Pitta, Fabián Balbuena, Carlos Coronel, Matías Galarza, Juan Espínola, Kaku, Ramón Sosa, Santiago Arzamendia, Alex Arce, Cesar Olmedo, Mathías Villasanti, Ángel Romero.

ARG Argentina (4-2-3-1)

No. Name
23 Emiliano Martínez (GK)
19 Nicolás Otamendi Yellow Card
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
Argentina Substitutes:
Nico Paz, Alejandro Garnacho, Thiago Almada, Gonzalo Montiel, Walter Benítez, Valentín Castellanos, Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Facundo Medina, Exequiel Palacios, Leonardo Balerdi, Gerónimo Rulli.

WCQ - CONMEBOL News

Vini Jr. reveals he 'always dreamed of playing with Mbappe'
Vini Jr. reveals he 'always dreamed of playing with Mbappe'

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. reflects on winning Intercontinental Cup and The Best award in the same week and talks about his relationship with teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Bentancur's appeal on his 'really harsh' 7-game ban rejected
Bentancur's appeal on his 'really harsh' 7-game ban rejected

Gab & Juls talk about Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur's rejected appeal on 7-game ban due to racial slur about Heung-Min Son.

Arteta praises hat trick hero Gabriel Jesus
Arteta praises hat trick hero Gabriel Jesus

Mikel Arteta talks about Gabriel Jesus after his hat trick that secured Arsenal's place in the Carabao Cup semifinals.

'A dream come true' - Vinicius Junior on FIFA Best men's award win
'A dream come true' - Vinicius Junior on FIFA Best men's award win

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Carlo Ancelotti react to winning 'Men's Player' and 'Men's Coach' at The Best FIFA Football awards.

Amorim on Garnacho and Rashford left out: Performance is important
Amorim on Garnacho and Rashford left out: Performance is important

Ruben Amorim explains why Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were left out of Manchester United's squad to face Manchester City.