Paraguay took the lead in the 42nd minute through Julián Ensi and was on the brink of the biggest victory in recent history for a long time. Kai Havertz brought Germany back to life in the 57th minute.
In the penalty shootout, the South Americans missed two match points, and the decisive penalty was converted into a goal by José Kanale.
The hero of Paraguay was Orlando Hil, who stopped two shots in the penalty series.
The „Panzer“ did not seriously threaten the opponent’s goal in the first half, except for possession and a few futile attempts that mostly ended outside the goal frame.
The underdog threatened dangerously as early as the second minute. After a corner kick, Junior Alonso received the ball at the far post, shot towards the near corner, but Manuel Neuer intervened and prevented a certain goal.
At the moment when Germany was looking for a way to the net, Paraguay took the lead almost out of nowhere after a brilliant team action. Miguel Almirón sent a pass to the right flank for Matías Galarza, who crossed, and Julián Ensi from the second plan headed the ball into the net from about 10 meters, beating Neuer.
This is the tenth consecutive match in World Cups in which the German goalkeeper has conceded a goal, thus equaling the Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carvajal.
Interestingly, Paraguay spent only 23 seconds in the opponent’s half in the first half, and that was enough for a goal.
In the fifth minute of the second half, there was almost a new shock for the „Manschaft“ – Joshua Kimmich made a mistake in his penalty area, Ensi had a clear chance, but Neuer saved with his foot.
Four minutes later, Germany equalized. Kai Havertz crossed, and Florian Wirtz reacted excellently and headed the ball into the net, bringing things „back to square one.“
Shortly after, it was close for the four-time world champion to turn the game around, but Alexander Pavlović’s shot from seven or eight meters was blocked.
In the 78th minute, the same players as in the equalizing goal almost orchestrated a turnaround – Wirtz crossed, Havertz headed from the six-yard box, but this time Orlando Hil saved.
Germany could not resolve the match in regular time, so it went into extra time, the first on this tournament.
In the 98th minute, Nik Voltemade was blocked, but four minutes later, the „Panzer“ managed to turn the game around, but Jonathan Tah’s goal was disallowed because Valdemar Anton had previously fouled goalkeeper Hil. The goal was initially awarded, but a call came from the VAR room, and after reviewing the footage, the main referee from Morocco changed his decision and awarded a foul, much to the discontent of the German bench led by Julian Nagelsmann.
At the end of the first extra time, Wirtz found himself in a chance again, but Hil was secure.
Kimmich cleverly attempted a direct shot from the corner in the 111th minute, but the Paraguayan goalkeeper was not fooled.
Two minutes before the end of the second extra time, Anton threatened with a header after a corner kick, but Hil caught the „live“ ball.
In the referee’s added time, Amiri tried directly from a free kick, but only hit the outside of the net.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
In the penalty shootout, true drama unfolded. First, Hil saved Havertz’s shot. After that, five shooters successfully converted their penalties, until in the fourth round, Voltemade’s shot was stopped by the Paraguayan goalkeeper. The South American team had two chances to finish the job, but first Sanabria shot wide, and then Neuer stopped Fabien Valbuena. It seemed that the psychological advantage was on the side of the four-time champion, but Tah sent his shot over the entire goal in the sixth round, and the third chance was utilized by Kanale for great celebration and a historic place among the top 16.
There, they will face the winner of the match between France and Sweden.
Comments