This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Juan Armoa, a young goalkeeper from the Paraguayan club 2 de Mayo, had a debut in the first division that he will hardly forget, but not for the reasons he had dreamed of. The 18-year-old player started as a starter but ended up being substituted with less than two minutes of play so that his club could comply with a rule from the Paraguayan Football Association (AFP). The unusual episode occurred in the match of the 12th round of the Apertura Tournament, in which the visiting team faced and defeated Sportivo Luqueño 2-0. Armoa started the game in the starting eleven but watched almost the entire match from the bench after being replaced by Ángel Martínez just one minute in, by the decision of coach Eduardo Ledesma. The reason for this early substitution is linked to an AFP regulation that requires clubs to accumulate a certain number of minutes of play with athletes under 19 years old, in order to promote young talent. The call-up of a player to a national team contributes minutes towards fulfilling this law, but only if the athlete has already debuted in the first division. Having recently been called up to the Paraguay U-20 national team for a friendly against Brazil, Juan Armoa needed to make his official debut for his international participation minutes to count for 2 de Mayo. This strategy allowed the club to gain flexibility in managing the squad for upcoming games, without the pressure of having to necessarily use young players. In statements to the Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color, the goalkeeper himself revealed that he was already expecting the situation. "When we arrived at the stadium, in the locker room, I was informed that I would start, but then I would be substituted for Ángel Martínez," Armoa explained. "The coach told me it would be this way because we lack many minutes due to the U-19 rule," he added. Although the debut was not as he imagined, the young player expressed acceptance of the decision, recognizing his role in helping the club. "I already knew that, whether the ball went out or the game stopped, I would have to come out. I would have liked to play a few more minutes, but I'm not angry or anything about it, because this way I'm also helping the club with the minutes for the national team. The truth is that I'm fine, although I expected to play a little more," he admitted.
Juan Armoa Paraguayan Football Association remains central to this story.
Juan Armoa Paraguayan Football Association remains central to this story.
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