Paraguay defeats Nicaragua 4-0 in friendly, but Enciso injury sparks concern

Paraguay celebrated a resounding 4-0 victory over Nicaragua in a friendly match, offering their fans a farewell spectacle before the Copa America. The match, played in front of 45,000 spectators at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, was intended as a final tune-up eight days before Paraguay's opening Copa America fixture against host nation the United States.

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Paraguay wants to get rid of the thorn that the United States left them (in the last friendly they played 2-1).

However, the celebratory atmosphere was significantly dampened by a serious injury to Paraguayan star Julio Enciso. The forward had to be taken off the field on a stretcher in the 23rd minute after sustaining a hard foul. Preliminary diagnoses indicate a thigh trauma that could potentially rule him out of the crucial match against the USA on June 12. Enciso's departure visibly impacted his teammates, who voiced concerns about the opponent's rough play to the referee.

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If we start on the right foot, the World Cup will be more bearable.

Alejandro Romero opened the scoring for Paraguay with a penalty in the 16th minute. Following Enciso's exit, Miguel Almirón extended the lead in the 41st minute with an impressive left-footed strike, capitalizing on a precise long pass from Diego Gómez. The second half saw a complete change in Paraguay's lineup, including the goalkeeper, with Orlando Gill replacing Roberto Fernández.

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The guys deserve the reward that their public gave them. We are going in a single embrace towards the World Cup.

Matías Galarza Fonda added a third goal in the 61st minute, tapping in a rebound. Five minutes later, 20-year-old debutant Alexandro Maidana sealed the victory with the fourth goal, finishing a pass from Mauricio. Despite the win, the focus remains on Enciso's injury and its potential implications for Paraguay's campaign. Coach Gustavo Alfaro emphasized the team's collective spirit, stating they are moving "in a single embrace" towards the World Cup qualifiers, while Nicaragua's coach, Juan Real, acknowledged the difficulty of the match and the ongoing learning process for his developing team.

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We have drawn with a good team (on May 29 with South Africa) and I liked the team's behavior, the team's mentality. We have to continue on this path to keep growing.