Enciso fires Paraguay into halftime lead against Germany

Paraguay are on course for a major World Cup upset after taking a 1-0 lead into halftime against Germany in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter in Boston.

Julio Enciso struck in the 42nd minute to give the South Americans a deserved advantage, capping an efficient first-half display in which they absorbed sustained German pressure before punishing their opponents with a clinical finish.

Germany controlled possession for long spells and enjoyed more attacking opportunities but failed to convert their dominance into goals. Paraguay, by contrast, made the most of one of their clearest chances, with Enciso calmly finding the net to silence the German supporters.

Julian Nagelsmann's decision to hand Deniz Undav his first World Cup start has yet to pay off, as Germany struggled to break down Paraguay's disciplined defensive structure despite enjoying the lion's share of possession.

With their World Cup campaign now hanging in the balance, Germany will need a far more incisive attacking display after the break to avoid a shock elimination. Paraguay, meanwhile, are 45 minutes away from producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and securing a historic place in the last 16.