Paraguay lost 2-0 to Japan on Thursday and appeared to be heading for another defeat against Asian opposition after Musa Al-Taamari and Yaseen Al-Bakhit both struck for Jordan just before the break.

However, midfielder Óscar Romero pulled one back shortly after the hour mark, before Almirón restored parity with a header at the far post less than ten minutes after entering the fray as a substitute. In the process, the United attacker appeared to hurt himself after colliding with goalkeeper Amer Shafi, but managed to see out the remainder of the game.

Robert Rojas and another Romero, Alejandro, completed a memorable comeback for La Albirroja late on.

Next up for Paraguay is a friendly against Martin Dúbravka’s Slovakia in Bratislava next month.

And, come 2020, attention will start to turn to CONMEBOL’s marathon World Cup qualification campaign, with Almirón’s side due to play their first game in March.