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Paraguay beat Japan
on penalties to move into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday after
the match had finished in a goalless stalemate after extra time.

Japan’s Yuichi
Komano hit the crossbar with his team’s third spot kick, the only one
missed in the first shootout of the finals. Paraguay, who become the
fourth South American team after Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, in the
last eight, will now meet Spain or Portugal after holding their nerve
to win the shootout 5-3. The South Americans had enjoyed more
possession during the 0-0 draw which had relatively few clear goal
chances at either end. A cagey opening brought few clear-cut chances
but the game sparked to life in the 20th minute, Eiji Kawashima saving
with his knee from Lucas Barrios, then Daisuke Matsui cracking the
Paraguay crossbar with a curling 25-metres effort.

An out-of-sorts
Honda had his first clear sight of goal in the 38th minute, striking
the ball first time with the outside of his favoured left foot just
past the post. Paraguay looked set to open the scoring 10 minutes into
the second half when Edgar Benitez broke into the left side of the
penalty area but his shot was deflected wide by Yuji Nakazawa. Japan,
who had torn Denmark apart in their final group game with some
delightful free-flowing soccer, struggled to maintain possession in the
second half and their trademark quick-fire counter-attacks fizzled in
the final third.

With the score tied at 0-0 after 90 minutes, Japan made a bright
start to extra time, Yoshito Okubo bearing down on the Paraguay defence
with a surging run from deep in his own half. Paraguay almost unlocked
the Japanese defence seven minutes into extra time when Claudio Morel
released substitute Valdez in the box but goalkeeper Kawashima got out
smartly to block. Paraguay’s Edgar Barreto had his head in his hands
moments later when the ball dropped to him in a crowded penalty area
but he could do no better than flick the ball over the bar.