Paraguay stuns Germany — Paraguay eliminated four-time champions Germany after a 1-1 draw and scoreless extra time, winning the tournament’s first shootout 4-3. The match turned on a controversial VAR annulment of a late Jonathan Tah header and a tense penalty sequence that ended with José Canale’s decisive conversion.
Paraguay stuns Germany in dramatic shootout
The result sends Paraguay into the round of 16; Germany’s tournament ends. Paraguay will await the winner of France vs Sweden at New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Match at a glance
Final score: 1-1 after 120 minutes; Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties. Scorers in regulation: Julio Enciso (Paraguay) 42′, Kai Havertz (Germany) 54′. Venue: Boston Stadium. This was the tournament’s first penalty shootout.
Key moments: goals and late extra-time action
Paraguay took the lead just before halftime when Julio Enciso met a cross with a header in the 42nd minute to give his side a slender advantage into the break. Germany equalized in the 54th minute when Kai Havertz redirected a ball into the net to level the match.
After Havertz’s goal, Germany had stretches of possession and created several chances, while Paraguay threatened on the counter. Neither side could break the deadlock in the remainder of regulation; extra time produced a dramatic moment that ultimately required VAR intervention.
VAR and the annulled Tah goal
Early in extra time Jonathan Tah rose to head a corner past Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, and the stadium reacted as if the match had been decided. The goal was referred to VAR for review.
After consulting video replay the referee annulled Tah’s header, ruling that Waldemar Anton’s positioning during the corner had prevented Gill from having a fair chance to challenge the header. The match report describes Anton as appearing to obstruct the goalkeeper’s movement; the on-field official upheld the VAR recommendation to disallow the goal. The decision erased what would have been a likely match-winner and left the score at 1-1 heading into the shootout. The call drew immediate debate given the timing in extra time.
Penalty shootout and decisive kicks
The shootout opened poorly for Germany when Kai Havertz’s penalty was saved by Orlando Gill, giving Paraguay early momentum. Maurício then converted to put Paraguay ahead.
Both sides converted subsequent attempts, but pivotal saves and misses followed: Nick Woltemade had his penalty saved by Gill; Antonio Sanabria missed for Paraguay; Manuel Neuer produced a key save later in the sequence to keep Germany alive; Jonathan Tah missed his spot kick by sending it over the bar.
With the shootout poised, José Canale stepped up for Paraguay’s decisive kick. Neuer guessed the wrong way and Canale tucked his shot under the bar to seal a 4-3 shootout victory and send Paraguay through to the round of 16. Fox News coverage notes this loss represents Germany’s first reported defeat on penalties at a FIFA World Cup.
Penalty timeline
Penalty sequence (shootout order):
- Germany – Kai Havertz: saved by Orlando Gill.
- Paraguay – Maurício: converted.
- Both teams scored their next two penalties, keeping the shootout close.
- Germany – Nick Woltemade: saved by Gill; Paraguay – Antonio Sanabria: missed.
- Manuel Neuer saved Fabián Balbuena’s attempt, then Jonathan Tah missed his spot kick over the bar.
- Paraguay – José Canale: converted the decisive penalty to win 4-3.
What this means for both teams
Outcome: Paraguay advances to the round of 16; Germany is eliminated. Paraguay’s progression gives the side a knockout-stage assignment against the France vs Sweden winner at New York/New Jersey Stadium.
The result is a knockout-stage milestone for Paraguay and a sudden exit for Germany, who controlled portions of the match but could not convert that control into a win. The VAR annulment in extra time and the subsequent shootout sequence will be central to postgame analysis from both camps.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Jonathan Tah’s goal disallowed?
The referee, after consulting VAR, judged that Waldemar Anton obstructed Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the corner, preventing Gill from having a proper chance to challenge Tah’s header. The on-field official annulled the goal following the review.
Who scored during regular time for each team?
Julio Enciso scored for Paraguay in the 42nd minute. Kai Havertz scored for Germany in the 54th minute. No other goals were recorded in the 90 minutes or extra time.
Who will Paraguay face next?
Paraguay will face the winner of France vs Sweden at New York/New Jersey Stadium in the round of 16.
Source: Fox News — full match coverage and postgame notes are available at https://www.foxnews.com/sports/paraguay-stuns-four-time-world-cup-champions-germany-penalty-shootout-controversial-call.
What comes next: Paraguay prepares for their round of 16 assignment after France and Sweden conclude their match; Germany departs the tournament following this knockout-stage exit.
