In Asunción, the Paraguayans are behind, but are 2-1 and fighting for a place at the 2026 World Cup
With the brilliance of Sanabria, Paraguay is definitively back in the fight for one of the six places in South America for the 2026 World Cup. After all, on Tuesday evening (15/10), in Asunción, they hosted Venezuela, in the tenth round of the South American qualifiers. They comeback to win, 2-1. The Paraguayans thus reach 13 points and enter the ranking area (G6). Venezuela drops to eighth place, with 11 points.
Venezuela took the lead with a beautiful goal from Aramburu in the first half. But, in the final phase, Sanabria, who started from the bench and came on at half-time, scored both goals for the Paraguayans. It should be noted that in the first half Paraguay missed a penalty, with Enciso.
Venezuela ahead in the first half
Paraguay started from everything. Enciso had a golden opportunity in the first minute, shooting for a great save from Romo, then he scored a shot from outside the area and Romo flew in to create a miracle. At home and needing the result, Paraguay had the knife between their teeth and were on the attack. But it gave space to counterattacks. And, in the 25th minute, the guests took the lead. Soteldo missed the target moving from left to center and rolling towards Aramburu. The right back advances and hits a cross into Gatito’s right corner. Nice goal.
Paraguay misses the penalty
Paraguay never stopped attacking and missed an incredible goal through Almirón. A cross from the left, no Venezuelan takes the ball and Almirón, just beyond the far post, but inside the small area, sends his header high. But for Paraguay the worst was yet to come. In the 40th minute, the Palmeiras defender went on the attack and conceded a penalty. But Enciso hits weakly and Romo saves, to the dismay of the crowd at Defensores del Chaco.
Sanabria enters and changes the game
Paraguay returns with two changes in attack. Pitta (Cuiabá player) and Sosa left and Angel Romero (Corinthians) and Sanabria entered. It had an effect. In the 13th minute, after a play by Enciso and a cross by Junior Alonso, Sanabria manages to equalize the match. From then on, it was an open game and manly fouls on both sides.
In the 28th minute Romero advanced from the right and crossed for Enciso to complete. Romo partially saves, but Sanabria is careful to hold the rest and, with a header, turns the game around. With the lead, Paraguay finished. After all, coach Gustavo Alfaro filled the team with defenders. Thus he achieved the second victory in the last three matches (the other was against Brazil).
PARAGUAY 2X1 VENEZUELA
10th round of the South American qualifiers
Date: 10/15/2024
Position: Chaco Defenders, Asunción (PAR)
PARAGUAY: Gatito Fernández; Gustavo Gómez, Alderete and Junior Alonso; Cáceres, Diego Gómez (Balbuena, 35’/2nd T), Andrés Cubas and Sosa (Angel Romero, Interval); Almirón (Bobadilla, 35’/2ºQ) and Enciso (Villasanti, 43’/2ºQ); Isidro Pitta (Sanabria, Intervallo). Technician: Gustavo Alfaro.
VENEZUELA: ROMO; Aramburu, Ramírez, Ferraresi (Jesús Ramírez, 43/2ºT) and Navarro; Herrera, Cásseres (Segovia, 34’/2nd Q) and Machís (Bello, 34’/2nd Q); Savarino (Cadiz, 20’/2nd Q), Soteldo and Rondón. Technician: Fernando Battista
Goals: Aramburu, 24’/1st Q (0-1); Sanabria, 13’/2nd T (1-1); Sanabria, 28’/2nd Q (2-1)
Referee: Piero Maza (CHL)
Assistants: Claudio Urrutia and Miguel Rocha (CHL)
VAR: Rodrigo Carvajal (CHL)
Yellow cards: Cáceres, Alderete (PAR); Miguel Navarro, Casseres, Solteldo, Cadiz, Aramburu, Bello (FRI)
Red cards:-
Follow our content on social media: Bluesky, Threads, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
