Key events<\/p>\n
72 mins: Turkey<\/a> with a brilliant break-away down the right after a cross-field pass finds substitute Yilmaz. He has an overlapping player to his right and two team-mates charging into the box to his left, but he shapes and shoots himself, sending the ball spinning over the crossbar. The stadium erupts into whistles and boos, and he waves in apology.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 71 mins: We\u2019re back and the referee immediately brandishes a yellow card for Eren Elmali, who literally just came onto the field, for clattering into the back of a Paraguayan player mid-air.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 68 mins: Hydration break for them and for us. Another chaotic quarter, and Turkey<\/a> look like they\u2019re starting to panic. Despite having an extra player, they still haven\u2019t found their much-needed equaliser.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 mins: Gomez off, Velazquez on. Meanwhile, the referee has sprinted towards the Paraguay<\/a> goalkeeper to give him a talking-to about taking too long to restart play. Arda Guler ran into the box and kicked the ball away, believing it was their free kick. But the referee clarifies and the ball is back on the grass for a goal kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 mins: An impatient Demiral winds up and sends a long strike way up into the stands behind Paraguay\u2019s goal. Meanwhile, Gomez is down again with substitute Gustavo Velazquez standing on the sideline ready to replace him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 64 mins: Paraguay<\/a> had to defend a corner just now with nine players after Gomez spent a minute on the sidelines getting a foot stomp seen to. He\u2019s back on now, and Turkey keep coming.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 mins: Turkey<\/a> head coach Vincenzo Montella gets a yellow card after yelling about a foul called against one of his players a moment ago.<\/p>\n Referee Ivan Barton shows a yellow card to Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkey. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.35 EDT<\/p>\n 62 mins: Huge chance for Turkey! A perfect chipped cross from Yildiz on the left side of the area floats over three Paraguayan defenders and onto the head of substitute Gul, but there\u2019s no power on the header and the ball falls straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Kenan Yildiz of Turkey in action. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.34 EDT<\/p>\n 61 mins: Up the other end, Paraguay\u2019s best hope Enciso receives a fizzing ball in the box and turns to shoot but the ball skims just wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 60 mins: Two substitutions for Turkey<\/a>. Yuksek and Akgun are off, replaced by Deniz Gul and Can Uzun.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 59 mins: A scramble in the six-yard box! A long-range strike from Turkey\u2019s midfield skims off a Paraguayan head and clangs off goalkeeper Gill. The ball spills into the grass towards a Turkish boot, but two defenders fling themselves to the ground to smother the shot.<\/p>\n Turkey’s Yunus Akgun (19) makes an attempt to score. Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.32 EDT<\/p>\n 56 mins: Calhanoglu floats a sensational cross towards the six-yard area, at exactly the speed and curl needed for a Turkish head to flick on into the gaping net, but there\u2019s nobody there except Yuksek who times his run poorly and watches the ball bounce out for a goal kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 55 mins: Paraguay<\/a> counter after a poor pass down the other end, with Enciso picking up the ball near half-way and sprinting all the way into Turkey\u2019s box. He almost clips the ball inside to steady himself for a shot, but a Turkish leg pokes the ball from underneath him and clears it away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 54 mins: Yilmaz is penalised for a strong (but fair, I thought) shoulder-to-shoulder challenge on a Paraguayan defender. The substitute striker turns and holds his arms wide at the referee, wondering how on earth it was a foul. Fair point.<\/p>\n Turkey’s Baris Alper Yilmaz and Yunus Akgun react. Photograph: Eloisa Lopez\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.26 EDT<\/p>\n 53 mins: Yildiz once again with a nice piece of skill to skip past a Paraguayan defender and fire a cross towards the penalty area, but it\u2019s hoofed wildly away by a hopeful dark blue shin.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50 mins: 10-man Paraguay<\/a> will have to throw everything of themselves at this second half to maintain their slim 1-0 lead. But they\u2019ve got a furious Turkey side with an extra player to contend with. Enciso is Paraguay\u2019s only advanced player as the rest of his team sits in two deep lines behind the ball, parked in their own penalty area. How long can they keep this up?<\/p>\n Paraguay’s Julio Enciso in action with Turkey’s Merih Demiral. Photograph: David Gonzales\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.25 EDT<\/p>\n 49 mins: Kenan Yildiz, who\u2019s been perhaps Turkey\u2019s brightest attacking spark, immediately finds the ball at his feet after the goal kick and tears into the left side of the box, but his shot cracks into the side netting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 mins: Turkey<\/a> win the first corner of the second half as their travelling fans turn up the volume. But Guler\u2019s curling corner is headed away at the near post by Gomez.<\/p>\n Arda Guler (L) of Turkey in action against Andres Cubas of Paraguay. Photograph: Benjamin Fanjoy\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.22 EDT<\/p>\n One substitute for both teams at the half-time break:<\/p>\n Paraguay striker Pitta has been hooked, replaced by Bobadilla in midfield.<\/p>\n For Turkey<\/a>, Baris Yilmaz comes on for Akturkoglu.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Now here\u2019s a great trivia fact from Erik:<\/p>\n \u201cIs Almiron the first player to get a yellow for the mistaken identity check AND the first to get a red for covering his mouth?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, he is!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What does Turkey need to do from here? Their World Cup<\/a> hangs in the balance of this game, and while they\u2019ve had 72% possession, 12 shots and 5 corners, they haven\u2019t really looked like equalising.<\/p>\n Burt asks: \u201cAre Turkey<\/a> going to lose again to another smash and grab? Looked possible until the send off.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First time we\u2019ve seen a direct red card given to a player for covering their mouths during a game, with Paraguay\u2019s talismanic Miguel Almiron sent off.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a new rule introduced to this World Cup<\/a> to prevent players from making racist and homophobic comments, which they have previously been able to get away with by hiding their mouths under their hands.<\/p>\n As Ted observes: \u201cThat looked reflexive from Almiron, perhaps harsh to give him a red but if we\u2019re going to stamp out this behavior then this is what is needed. He certainly won\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Miguel Almiron (10) of Paraguay reacts after receiving a red card for covering his mouth while talking to another player during the match. Photograph: Richard Heathcote\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.08 EDT<\/p>\n Loving the wordplay from Peter here.<\/p>\n \u201cSeeing Almiron sent off for covering his mouth must make Paraguay<\/a> fans want to cover their eyes.<\/p>\n If Turkey<\/a> want to live up to their dark horse tag, they had better break into a gallop soon. So far it\u2019s been only stop-and-go trotting here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n My very own horse-girl partner is particularly chuffed with the last one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thank you to everyone who has emailed in to clarify Turkey\u2019s future at this World Cup! Steve summarises it best:<\/p>\n \u201cIf Turkey lose tonight, they will 100% finish bottom of the group due to the priority of the various group stage tie-breakers. Even if they were to be best the USA in the last game, with 3 points they would be in a tie with either Australia or Paraguay<\/a> – with both of those teams holding the tie-breaker (I.e., the head-to-head record) over Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s a bit of afters as the two sides come off the pitch, with the substitutes and staff from both teams coming together near the half-way line. It\u2019s hard to tell who is who as they\u2019re all wearing the same coloured bibs, but the officials and others are holding their arms trying to create distance between shouting and pointing players.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Turkey 0-1 Paraguay<\/p>\n Goodness me. What a half.<\/p>\n Paraguay\u2019s Orlando Gill looks on as Turkey\u2019s Mert Muldur header hits the post. Photograph: Carlos Barr\u00eda\/ReutersHakan Calhanoglu (10) of Turkey competes for the ball against Andres Cubas (14) of Paraguay. Photograph: Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.02 EDT<\/p>\n 90+9 mins: A rocket shot from Calhanoglu cracks Gomez right in the head and the Paraguay<\/a> captain staggers backwards and falls into the grass. The referee whistles play dead and signals for a head injury, but he\u2019s up and moving within moments.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+7 mins: Turkey continue trying to find spaces and angles down the left side, moving in triangles as they attempt to wrench Paraguay\u2019s tight defence apart. A desperate shot spins wide of the near post as this never-ending half somehow continues.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+5 mins: One of the final acts of a tense first half is Ismail Yuksek taking two long touches near the top of Paraguay\u2019s penalty area and launching a shot just over the crossbar.<\/p>\n Turkey’s Ismail Yuksek in action. Photograph: David Gonzales\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.55 EDT<\/p>\n That\u2019s the 7th red card of this World Cup<\/a>, already almost double the total number from Qatar in 2022.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Red card! (Almiron 45+3 mins)<\/p>\n Paraguay attacker Miguel Almiron earns a straight red card for covering his mouth during the melee moments ago.<\/p>\n Referee Ivan Barton shows a red card to Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron. Photograph: Carlos Barr\u00eda\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.52 EDT<\/p>\n 45+1 mins: Six minutes of added time but it\u2019s all happening now! Paraguay<\/a> striker Pitta is taken out near the centre-circle and suddenly players from both sides are crashing together on the pitch, fronting up to one another as tensions continue to flare. The referee does well to control things as both captains try to pull their players away, but Ivan Barton suddenly signals a VAR review for a possible red card.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins: Enciso with a brilliant individual run for Paraguay<\/a>, picking up the ball near Turkey\u2019s box and dancing around one, two, three defenders. He\u2019s steered towards the right-hand side before clipping a cross back towards the penalty spot, but it\u2019s headed away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 mins: For all Turkey\u2019s possessive dominance, the same ghost of the Australian game haunts them. They\u2019ve had 7 shots, but just 1 on target. Paraguay<\/a> are doing well to shut down those central spaces and force Turkey to find other paths to goal, but at what point do you just put your foot through it and hope for a lucky ricochet?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 mins: Chaos! Turkey<\/a> attack right back with Gomez seemingly taking out a Akturkoglu off the ball just as the striker stepped into the penalty area. He slides on his stomach towards the penalty spot, but the referee doesn\u2019t want a bar of it.<\/p>\n Turkey’s Kerem Akturkoglu reacts after sustaining an injury. Photograph: David Gonzales\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.46 EDT<\/p>\n 38 mins: A yellow card is shown to a member of the Paraguayan coaching staff for an unclear reason.<\/p>\n Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro reacts. Photograph: Carlos Barr\u00eda\/ReutersReferee Ivan Barton issues a yellow card to Carlos Gonzalez (not pictured) of Paraguay, as Gustavo Alfaro, Head Coach of Paraguay, reacts. Photograph: Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.50 EDT<\/p>\n 37 mins: Paraguay<\/a> race down the other end to try and pounce on Turkey\u2019s overcommitment further up the field. Galarza sprints onto a fizzed cross-field pass down the left before squaring for Enciso, but he\u2019s bundled up by two Turkey defenders and forced backwards. Paraguay recirculate the ball around the top of the area to the right, and the eventual shot clangs off the body of the goalkeeper and is thumped clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 35 mins: Turkey almost equalise! A super free-kick by Guler is headed by a charging Muldur near the six-yard area, but the ball somehow hits both the crossbar and the near post before bouncing back into play. A Paraguay<\/a> defender is the first to react and scoops it away.<\/p>\n Mert Muldur (18) of Turkey is challenged by Matias Galarza (23). Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.39 EDT<\/p>\n 32 mins: A half-shout for a penalty by Yuksek who drove into the box, but a terrifically-timed tackle by Gomez (I think), which saw the Turkish defender tumble into the grass, is waved away by the referee.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 mins: Arda Guler stands over yet another free kick, sending a deep curling ball towards the penalty spot. But it\u2019s headed over the crossbar before the referee signals for a Paraguay<\/a> free kick anyway. Whistles erupt around the stadium after the confusion.<\/p>\n Arda Guler (8) of Turkey takes his kick. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.36 EDT<\/p>\n 29 mins: We\u2019re back, and I\u2019ve learned in that short break that Paraguay\u2019s goal was faster than Morocco\u2019s goal earlier today by approximately six seconds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some emails coming through in the meantime.<\/p>\n Paul asks: \u201cThey\u2019re saying that Turkiye are out if this score stays like this. Is that right? Can they not still finish third, and join that lottery for a qualification place? Help an old man out.\u201d<\/p>\n