*This content was translated by AI.
Paraguay staged a huge upset, toppling the 'championship favorite' Germany.
On the 30th, at 10 a.m. Korean time, Paraguay drew 1-1 with Germany through extra time in the Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, held at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA. The match ended with a 4-3 victory for Paraguay in the penalty shootout. This was the first extra-time match and the first penalty shootout of the tournament.
Having narrowly advanced to the knockout stage as the third-place team in Group D, Paraguay defeated Germany, the top-ranked team in Group E, to reach the Round of 16. Paraguay will now compete with the winner of the France-Sweden match for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Paraguay took the lead. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Julio Enciso scored the opening goal, assisted by Matías Galarza, seizing the initiative.
Hit hard, Germany equalized in the 9th minute of the second half. Florian Wirtz delivered a cross from the left flank, which Kai Havertz finished with a skillful header, leveling the score.
Both teams remained scoreless for the remainder of regular time, and the match proceeded to the tournament's first extra-time period. In the 12th minute of the first half of extra time, Jonathan Taga scored with a header from a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed due to a goalkeeper charging foul by Valentin Anton immediately prior.
The match ultimately went to a penalty shootout. Germany faced a crisis as first kicker Havertz and fourth kicker Nick Woltemade missed their shots in succession. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved the shots from Paraguay's fourth and fifth kickers, keeping hope alive, but sixth kicker Taga missed again. Paraguay's final kicker, Jose Canale, calmly slotted the ball into the net, putting an end to the intense battle.
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*This content was translated by AI.
