Japan 0 Paraguay 0, 3-5 penalties

Komano, for Japan, opened the hostilities on 3’ but his shot was easily saved by Villar, Lucas forcing Kawashima into an excellent save on 20’. Two minutes later, Matsui hit the crossbar; 31’ Villar saved the shot by Tulio. Paraguay had more of the possession (65% to 35%) but Japan looked more dangerous.

51’ Ortigoza, in front of goal took too long and lost his shooting opportunity. On 54’ Nagatomo tried to show how it’s done, sending a first-time shot at Villar.

59’, good header by Riveros after a throw-in, saved by Kawashima. After this there were no clear efforts on goal from either side and the game went into extra time.

After 99’, Villar had to save a free kick from Honda; 111’, Kawashima saved from Valdez…and the game went to penalties, the first time in South Africa 2010.

Barreto converted for Paraguay, Endo for Japan. Lucas for Paraguay, Hasebe for Japan. 2-2.

Riveros for Paraguay…and Komano sent his against the bar. Valdez converted for Paraguay, 4-2. Honda, 4-3. Finally, Torres scored Paraguay’s fifth and put the team through to the quarter-finals.

Japan: Kawashima, Abe (Nakamura), Komano, Tulio, Nagatomo, Endo, Matsui (Okazaki), Okubo (Tamada), Hasebe, Honda, Nakazawa

Paraguay: Villar, Morel, Bonet, Santa Cruz (Cardozo), Benitez (Valdez), Vera, Da Silva, Riveros, Lucas, Ortigoza (E. Barreto), Alcaraz