Paraguay vs Japan, 2010 FIFA World Cup, Second Round

· FIFA World Cup

FT - Penalties
0 - 0

About

Paraguay are hosting Japan at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa, starting on . The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.

Match Commentary

0':
Coaches Takeshi Okada and Gerardo Martino.
0': Why not check out what our Japan blogger, Kentaro Matsuura, is saying about the game.
0': Join us at 1400 GMT as Japan and Paraguay look to book a place in the quarter-finals.
0': It's Paraguay vs Japan from the Loftus Versfeld stadium coming up in less than 30 minutes...
0': The teams are in, you can see them below.
0': Let's start with a stat attack...
0': ESPN Stats & Info: Paraguay have lost all three of their second round matches in World Cup history, failing to score on each occasion.
0': ESPN Stats & Info: This is the second time Japan have reached the second round, in 2002 they lost to Turkey 1-0 in the World Cup they joint hosted.
0': Comment from Kuzman Al Rashidin: Can't wait to see Endo and Honda in action.
0': Either Paraguay or Japan will create history today, as neither of them has reached the World Cup quarter-finals before. Paraguay were knocked out in the second round in 1986 (England), 1998 (France) and 2002 (Germany), while Japan's sole excursion this far ended on home soil in 2002 when they went down 1-0 to Turkey.
0': Comment from Soccernet editor John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: Japanese excitement is at fever pitch, judging from a very packed press room indeed. Paraguay are making themselves heard via the medium of drums. Not a packed house for Pretoria's send off. That's a shame because this is a great place to watch football in.
0': The national anthems have played out, we a moments from kick off in Pretoria.
0': Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino: "Well of course we came to the World Cup with dreams and we're working on it, we're still in the race. We're making a huge effort to improve our ball possession as I think this is the basis of our ambition in the World Cup."
0': Japan coach Takeshi Okada: "It will be a challenge for us as we try to get into the last eight for the first time, so we will be doing our absolute utmost to address this challenge."
1': Japan kick us off in Pretoria...
1': Japan, in all blue, are kicking from right to left and Okubo immediately gets involved firing an early shot just wide. Good start by Japan.
1': Paraguay are in their usual red and white shirts and white shorts and socks.
2': Matsui chops down Riveros and that could have been a yellow card for the Japanese midfielder.
3': Komano tries an optimistic shot from the right hand side. Saved by Villar.
4': Paraguay won a corner on the left hand side. First of the game. The referee is telling the players to stop pulling each others shirts.
4': Japan clear their lines.
5': ESPN Stats & Info: Lucas Barrios has scored in all three of his friendly appearances for Paraguay, but none of his three competitive ones.
7': Paraguay get forward and Santa Cruz whips a dangerous cross in from the right. Paraguay's Benitez and Riveros have clattered each other and have gingerly got to their feet holding their heads.
8':
Paraguay pose for the world's press prior to kick off
9': Very even, as you would expect, in these early stages.
11': Santa Cruz having some influence on the right hand side today. Paraguay almost playing a 4-3-3 as they look to stretch Japan.
13': Japan win a free kick about 40 yards out. Endo, the man who scored that stunning free kick against Denmark, chips it into the box but this time Paraguay can head clear.
15': Quite a slow pace so far. Paraguay enjoying the majority of possession, but the sea of blue of shirts are making it difficult for the South Americans.
16': Paraguay keeper Villar, a veteran of 35, is seeing a lot of the ball as Japan hit numerous long balls towards Honda and Okubo. Too long thus far.
17': Japan finally commit players forward but Honda can't get his foot on it.
18': 'Scrappy' would best describe the first 18 minutes here.
19':
Keisuke Honda battles for possession
20': Finally some excitment! Brilliant turn by Barrios on the edge of the box gives him a sight of goal but he hits his shot straight at Kawashima's legs. Good save but should have scored there.
22': Wonderful strike by Matsui! Matsui shoots from distance and his dipping effort comes off the top of the bar! Villar was beaten.
23': You wait 20 minutes for one chance then two come along at once.
24': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: This game has come alight. Barrios' chance was a good one and a good save by Kawashima, then Matsui crashed an effort off the bar. The Japanese have truly been the masters of the long-range effort in South Africa. The contrasting reactions tell me that the Japanese are the better-supported team here.
25': Paraguay can't seem to get hold of the ball at the moment. Struggling to pass it with any purpose.
27': Paraguay put Japan under pressure for the first time. They have a corner.
29': Morel's corner was quick and right into the mix, it falls at the feet of Santa Cruz who snatches at his shot under pressure from Honda but puts it wide. Should have more of that, Santa Cruz.
30': Japan are leaving Honda isolated in attack and need to push up the pitch. They are inviting pressure. Speaking of Honda, he is fouled.
31': Tanaka hits the resulting free kick goalbound from all of 50 yards. Infact, that was on the halfway line. What is Tanaka doing?
32': ESPN Stats & Info: Lucas Barrios' 20th-minute effort was only his first shot on target of the tournament.
34': Japan can move the ball brilliantly at their best but are sitting far too deep so far. They are playing far too cautiously.
35': Honda finds himself in a good position on the left but his cross is cleared. If this game is to wake up, Honda is one of the few capable of doing it.
36': Da Silva is penalised for a clean tackle on Honda. Poor decision but Japan have a chance to shoot here and Endo is standing over it. Slightly acute angle.
37': Santa Cruz heads a tricky delivery out for a Japan corner.
37': Paraguay get themselves out of trouble again.
38': Paraguay have the ball but it's a sluggish build-up and Japan win possession. Japan are much slicker in their attack but they also lose the ball through Honda. Hmmm.
39': Japan burst forward through Matsui on the right who sets up Honda, but Honda slices his shot from 20 yards wide of the post. Waste.
40':
Lucas Barrios is sent sprawling after his shot is saved
41': Honda took a long ball down beautifully under pressure from Da Silva. Great technique. Da Silva is penalised for another push in the back and Japan have a free kick in a position identical to a few moments ago...
42': But this one was more easily defended as Endo's ball was too low.
43': Paraguay look short of ideas as they move forward. Too narrow and too predictable.
45': We have a minute of added time at the end of the first half of a lacklustre affair.
45': Infact that's half time. Not much to enthuse about here. Very even game, but both sides need to step it up a few gears if they hope to win it.
45': You wouldn't think these two are playing for a place in the World Cup's last 8 after the first 45 minutes. Da Silva gives his players an ear-bashing before they limp back into the dressing room.
45': ESPN Stats & Info: No Asian side has ever beaten a South American side in the World Cup (12 losses, two draws).
45':
It has been a game of few chances in Pretoria
46': The second half is underway
46': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: We hope for better here, that was a first period of snatched chances and no little fear.
46': Absolutely John, the first 20 minutes of this game was arguably the worst of the tournament so far.
46': As things stand, we are on course for extra time and penalties...
48': Paraguay, playing from right to left in this second half, are playing at walking pace at the moment.
49': But they step it up as Ortigoza bursts into the box but the resolute Japan defence stands strong just as Ortigoza shapes to shoot.
51': Okubo remonstrates with no one in particular after being flagged for being marginally offside.
52': Morel puts in a lovely cross from the left but's just too high for Santa Cruz and the chance has gone.
53': The stakes are so high in this game that both sides are seemingly crippled with fear. Nothing has changed since the first half really.
54': Nagatomo hits a loose ball goalbound but it's deflected and goes tamely into the arms of Villar.
55': Paraguay, who dominate possession, win a corner.
56': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: After 57 minutes, it's still awful. I have no more to say.
57': I'm struggling to add to that.
58': Matsui (Japan) Matsui penalised for a late tackle on Riveros.
59': Valdez for Benitez (Paraguay)
60': Morel puts another lovely cross in from the left and Riveros catches it on the run but his header goes straight into the arms of Kawashima. Decent chance that.
61': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: We have just been handed the FIFA match stats. Its only note was that there was 1 minute of additional time.
62': Japan force a corner. Perhaps a set-piece is our best chance for a goal.
63': Valdez, who has looked bright since coming on, forces a corner.
64': But Barrios is penalised for a shove in the back of Hasebe. How disappointing.
65': Okazaki for Matsui (Japan)
66': Slightly odd decision to take Matsui off given that he's one of Japan's liveliest players, but he was on a yellow.
66': A long ball into the Japanese box is flapped at by the keeper Kawashima.
67': Kawashima has missed the ball there and clattered his own defender, Tanaka. Tanaka doesn't look to be in a good way.
68':
The most entertaining thing about this game has been the crowd
70': Japan look dangerous at times but Paraguay must change their system to unlock the deep-lying Japanese.
71': Nagatomo (Japan) Nagatomo is cautioned for tugging back Valdez. Misses the next game.
73': Paraguay launch another long ball into the box but Japan hack it clear. At the expense of a corner...
75': Barreto for Ortigoza (Paraguay)
77':
Yuto Nagatomo will miss the quarter-final if Japan qualify
79': Decent long-range effort by the substitute Barreto, which finds the arms of Kawashima.
80': Endo has gone down after being clattered by Morel. Looks to be making a lot out of nothing to be honest.
81': Kengo Nakamura for Abe (Japan)
83': Nagatomo puts a great cross in to Okubo, who collides with Villar. Both are receiving treatment. This counts as a moment of genuine excitement.
84': I think a goal is too much to ask here.
86': Japan are enjoying a solid five minutes of pressure here. A series of throw-ins in attacking positions are pinning Paraguay back in the latter stages.
87': Honda flicks a beautiful pass into the path of Okazaki but he is too slow to latch onto it.
87': Japan are going for this, with 3 minutes of normal time left.
89': Nothing I can say will make this game more exciting. Just awful.
90': We have 3 added minutes to endure before 30 minutes of extra time.
90': Honda has been pushed in the back by Morel. Last chance for Japan... Endo standing over it.
90': Good delivery by Endo, Tanaka flicks it on but it is cleared away.
90': ESPN Stats & Info: There has never been a penalty shootout at the World Cup that did not involve a European side.
90': Honda (Japan) is penalised for handball. Very very harsh. It wasn't even handball.
90': That's 90 minutes. Extra time (and probably penalties) coming up...
90': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: That was a full-time score apparent from almost the first minutes. Nerves have got the better of these teams. The rules of extra-time are being explained to us by the stadium announcer. Penalties are surely inevitable.
90':
Something mildly interesting that happened in the second half
91': Extra time is underway...
92': ESPN Stats & Info: Only two second round games have ever finished scoreless (Switzerland-Ukraine in 2006 and Ireland-Romania in 1990).
92': Japan win a corner but Okazaki's header is just over the bar.
93': Okubo is clearly tripped and Japan can launch this into the box...
94': But Paraguay get it away and break with Valdez who does well initially in beating his man but his low across the box from the left is woeful, as you'd expect. Chance is gone.
95': Cardozo for Santa Cruz (Paraguay)
96': Could be a decent sub for Paraguay. Benfica's Cardozo was the top scorer in the Portuguese league last season with 38 goals. Why was he on the bench?
96': Japan have one sub left but Paraguay have used all of theirs. I'm sure penalties is on both the coach's minds now.
96': Having said that, penalties have been on Japan's mind since the first minute.
97': Barreto comes close with a header but, again, Kawashima is untroubled.
98': Valdez makes a quick turn and his sliding shot is smothered by Kawashima. That's as close as Paraguay have come.
98': But Japan go up the other end and win a soft free kick. I think even the ref wants a goal...
98': Honda standing over it...
99': Honda strikes it well but the keeper Villar palms it away for a corner. I don't know why Nakamura didn't touch that to redirect it goalwards.
100': Paraguay come close again after another good delivery from Morel. Barreto in the box stuck his head at the ball but it loops over the bar.
102':
Paraguay's players prepare for extra time
103': Barrios is penalised for handball. Honda received a yellow for the same thing earlier. So where's the yellow for Barrios? Inconsistent.
105': That's the end of the first half of extra time.
105': Wow, this is awful. It's had penalties written all over for the past hour.
105': Both leggy sides have 15 minutes until that becomes a reality.
106': Paraguay kick off the second period of extra time.
106': Tamada for Okubo (Japan)
107': Will we be put out of our misery during extra time or is this going to penalties? Japan have a free kick in Paraguay's half, Endo to take...
107': Poor free kick. Cleared.
109':
Takeshi Okada rallies his troops as penalties approach
111': Paraguay's defenders throw themselves into three or four consecutive tackles. Defending for their lives here.
112': But Paraguay break and force a corner...
114': Endo (Japan) is booked for a late tackle on Vera. The ref should use his discretion, that was the tackle of a tired man. Endo will miss the next game. Big miss for Japan is they get through here.
116': Japan come close! Paraguay exposed at the back after Japan counter attack through Nagatomo, whose cross finds Honda but his header is saved.
118': Riveros (Paraguay) picks up a deserved yellow for handball.
120': That's full time! Penalties. Thank goodness for that.
120': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: The occasion has got to both sides and they now face a test of the nerve that neither have shown.
120': Penalties will kick off in a minute or two. The first shootout of the 2010 World Cup.
120': Villar and Kawashima are the keepers that will face the penalties...
120': Paraguay to take the first pen. It's Barreto...
120': GOAL! 1-0 Paraguay. Hard and low.
120': Endo to take Japan's first...
120': GOAL! 1-1 Sends the keeper the wrong way. Great pen.
120': Barrios for Paraguay...
120': GOAL! 2-1 Paraguay. Just scored after Kawashima guesses the right way.
120': Hasebe for Japan...
120': GOAL! 2-2. Great pen. Fierce pen from Hasebe
120': Riveros next up for Paraguay...
120': GOAL! 3-2 Paraguay. Confident pen, rolls it in.
120': Komano for Japan...
120': He misses! Hits the bar.
120': Valdez for Paraguay...
120': GOAL! 4-2 Paraguay! Blasted in!
120': Honda for Japan. Crucial pen...
120': GOAL! 4-3. Beautiful pen. Rolled in.
120': Cardozo for Paraguay. If he scores Paraguay win...
120': GOAL! 5-3! Paraguay win!
120': Cardozo scores easily and Japan are out! That was a lovely penalty. Ends a truly wretched game of football.
120': Comment from John Brewin at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: Cruel on Japan and Komano but they cannot say they did enough to win. The same is true of Paraguay but they took their chance. Spain and Portugal need fear very little.
120': Join us at 18.30GMT for Portugal vs Spain. After this, it cannot fail to be a classic.

Statistics

JPN		PAR
29	Fouls	26
4	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
1	Offsides	1
5	Corner Kicks	6
6	Saves	4
42	Possession	58
16	SHOTS	18
6	ON GOAL	6
0.2	On Target %	0.4
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
236	Accurate Passes	422
358	Passes	557
0.7	Pass Completion %	0.8
6	Accurate Crosses	9
23	Crosses	32
0.3	Cross %	0.3
64	Long Balls	94
29	Accurate Long Balls	53
0.5	Long Balls %	0.6
1	Blocked Shots	4
17	Effective Tackles	16
24	Tackles	28
0.7	Tackle %	0.6
0	Interceptions	0
20	Effective Clearances	15
28	Clearances	28

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Attendance: 36,742

Line-Ups

Paraguay (4-3-3)

No.	Name
1	Justo Villar (GK)
21	Antolin Alcaraz
14	Paulo da Silva
3	Claudio Morel Rodríguez
6	Carlos Bonet
20	Néstor Ortigoza
16	Cristian Riveros
13	Enrique Vera
19	Lucas Barrios
10	Edgar Benítez
9	Roque Santa Cruz

Paraguay Substitutes:

Julio César Cáceres, Jonathan Santana, Rodolfo Gamarra, Denis Caniza, Darío Verón, Nelson Haedo Valdez, Óscar Cardozo, Aureliano Torres, Édgar Barreto, Aldo Bobadilla, Diego Fabian Barreto.

Japan (4-3-3)

No.	Name
21	Eiji Kawashima (GK)
4	Marcus Tulio Tanaka
22	Yuji Nakazawa
5	Yuto Nagatomo
3	Yuichi Komano
2	Yuki Abe
7	Yasuhito Endo
17	Makoto Hasebe
18	Keisuke Honda
16	Yoshito Okubo
8	Daisuke Matsui

Japan Substitutes:

Junichi Inamoto, Atsuto Uchida, Shunsuke Nakamura, Keiji Tamada, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Daiki Iwamasa, Takayuki Morimoto, Seigo Narazaki, Yasuyuki Konno, Kisho Yano, Shinji Okazaki, Kengo Nakamura.

FIFA World Cup News

Yunus Musah has big plans for USMNT, Milan in World Cup year

United States international Yunus Musah speaks to ESPN's James Olley about his future at AC Milan and his high hopes for next year's World Cup hosts.

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers called up for Nigeria's last-gasp World Cup qualifiers

Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers has been handed a recall to the Nigeria squad on the back of his outstanding 2025 Unity Cup performance, which the Super Eagles won this offseason in London.

Musah: Pochettino has brought intensity and fire to the USMNT

Yunus Musah explains what Mauricio Pochettino has brought to the USMNT since taking the head coach job.

Yunus Musah explains his decision to skip the USMNT's Gold Cup run

Yunus Musah joins "The Football Reporters" podcast to explain why he chose not to be a part of the USMNT's 2025 Gold Cup squad.

2026 World Cup draw to be held at Kennedy Center in December

The draw for the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, U.S. President Donald Trump announced.