Dramatic Uruguay win keeps the dream alive

• Goalkeeper Gaitán scored a goal from end to end in the 38th minute.
• They will decide their semifinal qualification against Peru.

Uruguay and Paraguay played a thrilling match to close out Matchday 4 of the CONMEBOL Copa América Futsal 2026™.

A hard-fought first half ended scoreless, leaving Group A wide open, with four teams still in contention with one round to go.

The action came in the second half. Uruguay broke the deadlock through Nicolás Martínez in the 5th minute, and Paraguay equalized in the 11th while playing with an extra man and attacking with a flying goalkeeper.

Paraguay continued to push with the flying goalkeeper, but it backfired: after a Paraguayan attack, Gaitán intercepted the ball and fired it into the opposite goal. Without bouncing, the shot found the net to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.

Uruguay moved up to seven points (level with Argentina) and will fight for a place in the semifinals this Thursday against Peru (6 points). Paraguay (3 points) will face Argentina to close out the Group Stage.

Lineups

Uruguay (2): 1-Christian Gaitán, 3-Maximiliano Navarro, 5-Agustín Sosa, 10-Brandon Díaz, 13-Franco Duque.

Substitutes: 12-Mathías Fernández, 2-Alejandro Aunchayna, 4-Bruno Natalgiovanni, 6-Nicolás Lachaga, 7-Diego Defiore, 8-Ignacio Salgues (C), 9-Nicolás Lamas, 11-Camilo García, 14-Nicolás Martínez.

Head Coach: Gabriel De Simone.

Paraguay (1): 12-Giovanni González, 3-Julio Mareco (C), 5-Robert Gamarra, 9-Hugo Martínez, 10-Arnaldo Báez.

Substitutes: 1-Marcio Ramírez, 2-Marcos Solís, 4-Emerson Méndez, 6-Richard Rejala, 7-Javier Salas, 8-Vander Méndez, 11-Francisco Martínez, 13-Rodrigo Duarte, 14-Diego Poggi.

Head Coach: Carlos Chilavert.

Goals:

1st Half: None. Halftime score: Uruguay 0-0 Paraguay

2nd Half: 5’ N. Martínez (URU), 11’ Salas (PAR), 19’ Gaitán (URU)

Disciplinary:

Yellow cards: Defiore (URU), Báez (PAR)

Red card: Sosa (URU)

Referee: Daniel Manrique (Colombia)