In the 11th round of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualification, Paraguay had an important match against Argentina, the current leaders of the standings with 22 points. As the favourites, Argentina presented a strong challenge. Meanwhile, Paraguay, sitting in 6th place with 13 points, was eager to improve their standing and boost their chances of securing a direct berth for the FIFA World Cup.
Paraguay stunned World champions
Paraguay delivered a stunning performance, defeating world champions Argentina 2-1 at Estadio Defensores del Chaco. The match started with Lautaro Martínez giving Argentina an early lead in the 11th minute. However, just eight minutes later, Paraguayan Antonio Sanabria executed a remarkable bicycle kick to equalize the score.
The game’s pivotal moment occurred shortly after halftime when Omar Alderete found the net, scoring the decisive goal and securing an important victory for Paraguay. Despite Argentina controlling more possession and creating more goal-scoring opportunities, Paraguay's strategic gameplay and resilience played a key role in their triumph.
No to Messi shirts, but yes to Ronaldo's
Argentina faced Paraguay in a challenging venue, where local authorities implemented a restriction on fans wearing Messi shirts inside the stadium. Coverage from Asuncion highlighted the strong support from the home crowd, with many proudly donning Paraguay's red and white colours.
Interestingly, despite the restrictions on Messi shirts, the local authorities appeared to allow fans to display jerseys from other nations that were not part of the match. One notable instance included a fan waving a Cristiano Ronaldo number 7 shirt as Messi approached the corner flag trying to mock the legend and get his attention and perhaps draw out some reaction.
Messi being mocked by Paraguayan fans showing to him a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey. 😂🇵🇾🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/803yxD4Hhk
— Cristiano Ronaldo News (@CRonaldoNews) November 15, 2024
In the first half, Messi was denied any opportunities to get involved with the ball. Paraguay’s aggressive marking and relentless pressure neutralized the Argentine star. After the final whistle, Messi indulged in a heated confrontation with the referee, expressing his discontent with the officiating.