There were tears of disbelief and unbridled joy as Jose Canale smashed home Paraguay's penalty to complete one of the greatest World Cup upsets in recent memory. The unflappable defender's spot-kick, after Germany's Kai Havertz had blazed over, sent the South Americans into the last 16 and knocked out the four-time champions in Boston.
Players sprinted towards Canale before collapsing into a jubilant huddle. Paraguay supporters of every generation embraced as tears streamed down their faces, while chants of 'Vamos!' echoed around the stadium. After 120 minutes packed with tension and controversy, La Albirroja had done the unthinkable.
“Paraguay knock out Germany on penalties in World Cup shock, their first knockout win since 2014.”
"This means so much for our country," a 16-year-old Paraguay fan, who was with her family, told BBC Sport outside the stadium. "So many people doubted us. And we proved all of them wrong."
The result is the biggest upset of the tournament so far. Paraguay, who averaged only 0.78 goals per game in qualifying - the joint-lowest of any team to reach the finals - eliminated Germany in their first World Cup knockout match since 2014. Germany suffered their first World Cup elimination via a penalty shootout, having won their previous four, and only their second shootout failure at a major tournament after losing the Euro 1976 final.
Paraguay weathered an early German storm, sitting deep and absorbing pressure. Germany dominated with 75% possession, completing 719 passes to Paraguay's 161, and registered 21 shots to their opponents' seven. But this defensive resilience has been a feature of Paraguay's resurgence under their 63-year-old Argentine manager Gustavo Alfaro. He took charge six games into the qualifying campaign and, after one defeat in 12 matches, saw them qualify.
Controversy struck late in extra time when Germany thought they had won it. Jonathan Tah scored what appeared to be the winner, but the goal was disallowed by VAR after a review. The decision incensed the German camp, with Julian Nagelsmann's side left to rue a "terrible" call that cost them victory.
The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, forcing penalties. While Havertz missed, Canale kept his nerve to send Paraguay through. "We haven't been to the World Cup since 2010 and I was born in 2010," the fan added. "This means so much to everyone. I haven't been this happy in so long. Not many people know what or who Paraguay is. Now everyone is going to know who Paraguay is!"
Germany, meanwhile, still have not reached the round of 16 since 2014 - a remarkable run of failure for a footballing powerhouse. For Paraguay, it is a result that will live long in their history, ranking among the biggest World Cup shocks of the modern era.