Paraguay produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup by defeating Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, securing a place in the Round of 16.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gil emerged as Paraguay's hero, making a series of crucial saves during the match before stopping two penalties in the shootout to send the South Americans through.
Germany dominated possession and created the better chances throughout the contest but struggled to break down Paraguay's disciplined defense.
Paraguay threatened inside the opening minute when Julio Enciso forced a corner, from which Julio Alonso attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick that was brilliantly saved by Manuel Neuer.
Germany gradually took control of the game. Deniz Undav narrowly missed with a chipped effort, while Florian Wirtz repeatedly tested Paraguay's defense with dangerous crosses and long-range shots. Despite controlling 78% of possession in the first half, Germany created few clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Against the run of play, Paraguay took the lead in the 42nd minute. After Germany failed to clear a corner, Miguel Almirón delivered a low cross that Julio Enciso headed into the net from close range.
Germany responded strongly after halftime and equalized in the 54th minute when Kai Havertz powered home a header from a well-delivered cross.
The Germans continued to press for a winner, but Orlando Gil produced several outstanding saves, including a spectacular stop to deny Havertz in the 78th minute.
With the score level after 90 minutes, the match went to extra time.
Germany thought they had taken the lead in the 102nd minute through Jonathan Tah, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review after teammate Waldemar Anton was judged to have fouled Paraguay's goalkeeper during the corner.
Gil made another decisive intervention in the closing moments of extra time, denying Anton from close range to force a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Gil saved Kai Havertz's opening penalty and later denied Nick Woltemade. Paraguay converted through Mauricio, Gustavo Gómez, and eventually José Canale, while Antonio Sanabria missed one attempt.
Germany's Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, and Nadiem Amiri all scored, but Jonathan Tah fired his sudden-death penalty over the crossbar. José Canale then converted the decisive spot kick to seal Paraguay's historic victory.
The result marks one of the tournament's biggest surprises, with 41st-ranked Paraguay eliminating 10th-ranked Germany. It also handed Germany its first-ever World Cup penalty shootout defeat.
