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Derlis Gonzalez was on target as Paraguay progressed at Brazil's expense last night.

Uncle of Paraguay's goalscoring hero dies after watching winning penalty

The FC Basel striker scored from the spot to level the scores against Brazil and also netted the decisive kick in the shoot-out.

PARAGUAY’S PENALTY HERO Derlis Gonzalez saw his celebrations curtailed by tragedy following the death of his uncle from a heart attack on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old forward scored from the spot to level his side’s Copa América quarter-final clash with Brazil at 1-1 and then netted the winner in the shoot-out to seal a place in the last four for the Albirroja.

But after the game, the forward learned that his uncle had suffered a heart attack while watching the win in his homeland and passed away as doctors were unable to revive him.

“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,” Derlis wrote on Twitter later on Saturday in a post that also featured a photo of his uncle.

Gonzalez plays his club football for FC Basel in Switzerland and is considered the latest in Paraguay’s long line of striking talents.

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