It is a mix of joy and anguish for Paraguay hero Derlis Gonzalez after the striker’s winning penalty in the quarter final match against Brazil in the on-going Copa America led to his uncle’s death.
Gonzalez had earlier in the game scored Paraguay’s equaliser before slotting home the winning kick in the shootout.
But after the game, his night took a turn for the worse when he learned his uncle had died of a heart attack during the celebrations.
Writing on Twitter later, Gonzalez said: ‘Why today uncle? Why? You left me after a heart attack because I gave you so much joy and so much happiness. I can’t believe it.’
Paraguayan newspaper Ultima Hora reported that Gonzalez’s uncle, Irrazabal Manuel, 44(pictured right), watched the game on television at home with his friends, and Gonzalez was notified of the tragic news by his wife after the game.
