Asunción, Agencia IP.- The under-23 national team defeated Israel 4-2 on the second matchday of Group D in the Paris Olympic Games, keeping their chances of advancing to the next round alive.
Paraguay started strong with a goal from outside the penalty area by Marcelo Fernández. It ended the first half, dominating the match.
In the second half, Israel showed more possession and managed to equalize in the 53rd minute. With an outstanding performance, Julio Enciso put Albirroja ahead again until Oscar Glouck equalized once more for the Asian team, following a rebound from a penalty saved by Gatito Fernández.
With the game tied at the 80th minute, Paraguay continued to seek their first victory in Paris 2024, which finally came with a goal by Fabián Balbuena in the 93rd minute. Marcelo Fernández scored the second goal on a counterattack after stealing the ball from the Israeli defense.
Paraguay secured their first win after a tough 5-0 defeat against Japan at the start of the Olympics, and they are now preparing for their last group stage match, aiming for a place in the next round. This match will be on Tuesday, July 30, against Mali at 15:00 (Paraguayan time).