Paraguay Edges Peru 1-0: Galarza's Late Strike Secures World Cup Spot

Galarza's winner sends Paraguay to World Cup

Paraguay secured a 1-0 win over Peru with Matías Galarza's 78th-minute goal, earning their spot in the World Cup. Read more.

Grimaldo remained a threat, making an industrious run down the right flank before sending a cross into the box...

Paraguay secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Peru in the final group game of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification phase, extending Peru's winless run to five games. Despite being mathematically eliminated before kickoff, Peru dominated the first half, creating several scoring opportunities but failing to capitalize on them.

The match began with a cautious tone, but Peru started to gain momentum, with Joao Grimaldo having a promising header that flashed just wide of the post after meeting a deep cross. Peru continued to press, with Renato Tapia and Sergio Peña testing the Paraguayan defense, but they couldn't find the back of the net.

He had another promising opportunity shortly after, breaking through on goal, but hesitated and chose to pass instead of shooting. Unfortunately, he didn't find a teammate, and the chance went to waste. Meanwhile, the visiting team remained relatively subdued in their attacking approach. However, they did test Pedro Gallese with a powerful shot from Ramon Sosa, which he skillfully diverted wide, keeping his team in the game.

Just before halftime, Renato Tapia had a promising opportunity for Peru, unleashing a powerful shot that Orlando Gill expertly tipped around the post, denying the home team a crucial goal. The second half followed a similar pattern, with the visitors appearing lackluster in their attacking efforts. Meanwhile, Peru continued to press, looking increasingly likely to break the deadlock and secure a vital victory.

Grimaldo remained a threat, making an industrious run down the right flank before sending a cross into the box. However, the goalkeeper punched the ball clear before any of his teammates could capitalize. Carlos Zambrano also had a chance, heading the ball towards goal, but the goalkeeper made a crucial save, tipping it over the bar.

The visitors, who had shown little attacking threat throughout the game, caught Peru off guard and took the lead in the 78th minute. A well-executed passing move ended with Matías Galarza scoring at the back post, proving to be the decisive moment in the match. This goal sealed Paraguay's 1-0 win and secured their spot in the World Cup.

¡La @Albirroja cierra las #EliminatoriasSudamericanas con una sonrisa! 🇵🇾 😉 pic.twitter.com/1mUCQMNItE

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) September 10, 2025

 

The win marked a positive ending to Paraguay's campaign, concluding a two-match winless streak and finishing on a high note despite already securing their World Cup spot. For Peru, the loss wasn't entirely surprising, given their struggles throughout the qualifiers, managing just two wins and scoring only six goals in 18 games. While they avoided finishing at the very bottom of the group thanks to results elsewhere, the campaign was largely underwhelming for La Blanquirroja.

Key Moments:

Grimaldo's Missed Chance: Joao Grimaldo's header in the early stages of the match sailed wide, setting the tone for Peru's frustrating night.

Galarza's Winner: Matías Galarza scored the decisive goal in the 78th minute with a stunning strike, securing Paraguay's 1-0 win and their spot in the World Cup.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Paraguay, who returned to the World Cup after a 16-year absence. Meanwhile, Peru's loss confirmed their elimination, leaving them to ponder what could have been.