If anything was demonstrated in this World Cup, it is that logic serves little or nothing to predict a result, and this round of 16 was a testament to that. Paraguay, with more grit than football, not only sent Germany to extra time after drawing 1-1 in the 90 but also won in the penalty shootout 4-3 to achieve a hard-fought and historic qualification to the round of 16.
Just one minute into the game, the Albirroja would already send a warning. From a corner, Julio Enciso would cross for Júnior Alonso in the small area, who would shoot directly at the goal, but his attempt would be saved by Manuel Neuer.
Once readjusted after the initial push from their rival, the Germans would take possession and gradually start generating their own chances, although they would not be precise. This lack of effectiveness would cost them dearly at 41, when, after a great sequence of passes following a corner cleared by the German defense, a cross from Matías Galarza Fonda would find the head of an Enciso who only had to push it in to score the unexpected 1-0 lead.
In the second half, although it would start a bit imprecise and almost concede a second due to a mistake by Kimmich in the back that Enciso could not capitalize on, the Europeans would manage to equalize. At 54, Florian Wirtz would send the ball into the box, where Kai Havertz would flick it on to make it 1-1.
During the next period of time, the match would be summarized in constant attacks from Germany and some isolated adventures from Paraguay, in both cases without real danger. Among the opportunities for the four-time world champions, the most notable would occur at 77, when again Wirtz would cross for Havertz, but this time goalkeeper Orlando Gill would make the save.
With not much more to highlight, the match would go to extra time. In the first extra period, after so many attempts, the team led by Julian Nagelsmann would finally score 2-1. At 102, Nathaniel Brown would assist Jonathan Tah from a corner, who would win in the air against the Paraguayan defense and put his team ahead for the first time. However, after a VAR review, the goal would be disallowed for a foul by the substitute Waldemar Anton on Gill.
In the last 15 minutes of extra time, although the Paraguayans would have a bit more fuel than their opponents to attack, they would not stop suffering until the last moment to send the match to a penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout
1 | Germany | 0-0: Gill guessed the shot from Kai Havertz
1 | Paraguay | 0-1: Mauricio shot to the left and Neuer couldn't reach it
2 | Germany | 1-1: Joshua Kimmich shot to the left and Gill dove to the right
