Mbappe penalty sends France past Paraguay into World Cup quarterfinals
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty setting up a last-eight match against Morocco.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to give France a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16 on Saturday, AFP reported. The result puts France into a quarterfinal against Morocco and keeps Mbappe level with Lionel Messi as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Mbappe converted in the 70th minute after substitute Desire Doue was fouled by Diego Gomez, according to AFP. The goal was Mbappe’s seventh of this World Cup and his 19th in World Cup play overall, one behind Messi’s mark of 20.
France controlled possession for long periods at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia but struggled to turn that control into clear chances. AFP reported that Paraguay, ranked 41st in the world, defended deep with a back five and did not register a shot on target until the 90th minute.
The match was played before 68,324 fans in severe heat, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, AFP reported. Extreme weather warnings were in place because of possible storms, though the game was not interrupted.
Paraguay had arrived after knocking out Germany on penalties in the previous round, AFP reported, and set up to frustrate a France team that had been more fluent in earlier matches. France’s best first-half moments came from distance, including a Manu Kone effort that was deflected wide.
The physical tone unsettled France at times. AFP reported that Mbappe became involved in a shoving exchange with Andres Cubas, and Matias Galarza later lashed out at the France captain off the ball.
France coach Didier Deschamps changed the attack shortly after the hour, replacing Bradley Barcola with Doue on the left wing. The move quickly paid off when Doue drove into a crowded Paraguay defence and went down under contact from Gomez.
The Uzbek referee awarded the penalty after a review, AFP reported. Ousmane Dembele guarded the spot as Paraguay players tried to disturb it, before Mbappe stepped up and scored past Orlando Gill.
Gill had earlier denied Kone after the restart, tipping over another long-range attempt. Paraguay’s defensive plan had held France for more than an hour, but the penalty left them chasing a match in which they had offered little going forward.
France will return to its Boston base before facing Morocco next Thursday in nearby Foxborough, AFP reported. Morocco reached the quarterfinals earlier Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Canada.
The match was also played on the 250th anniversary of United States independence, in the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. AFP reported that the pre-match events included Idina Menzel singing the US national anthem, a performance by The Roots and a US Air Force flyover.
AFP noted that France also beat Paraguay at this stage of the World Cup in 1998, when a golden goal settled the tie. France went on to win that tournament.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.