Paraguay booked their ticket to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinals after edging out Japan, 5-3, in the tournament's first penalty shootout in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Oscar Cardozo netted the deciding PK after Japan's Yuichi Komano struck the crossbar with his spot kick. Paraguay converted all their PKs after the match went scoreless in 120 minutes.
The win denied Japan their first appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. The result also ensured that an Asian team has yet to beat a South American side in the history of the tournament.
Substitute Cardozo will remain the hero of the night after coolly burying Paraguay's fifth-and-final spot kick. Diego Barreto, Lucas Barrios, Cristian Riveros and Nelson Valdez also tallied from the spot.
Japan, though, will be disappointed with the result after enjoying the slight edge during open play. Both teams defended well throughout, but it was Japan who boasted the better chances on goal. However, with so much at stake, scoring opportunities were relatively scant as both teams approached the match tentatively.
Paraguay's Barrios produced a flash of brilliance to create the game's first chance on goal. The striker collected a through-ball from the midfield before rotating around his defender at the top of the box. However, his shot was not equal to the build-up, and Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima easily saved.
Japan responded immediately when Daisuke Matsui launched a dipping shot from distance, but his effort caromed off the crossbar and away from goal. Matsui later set the table for Keisuke Honda a few yards from the edge of the box, but the striker shot wide.
Paraguay began to find space to attack in the second half, but Japan protected their goal well and continued to threaten on the break. However, their finishing in the final third was not equal to their defending: Marcus Tulio Tanaka headed wide from a corner kick, and then the center back couldn't reach a looping pass at the far post in the waning minutes of regulation.
Paraguay were also guilty of wasting the final pass, and early in extra time they flashed a serve across goal that eluded everyone. But they applied huge pressure minutes later when Claudio Morel threaded a pass to substitute Edgar Barreto, but his shot was saved, and the Japanese defense kept out the following barrage of shots. Paulo Da Silva then headed wide midway through the second period.
As the clock wound down, though, it seemed inevitable the match would be decided by penalty kicks, and after Komano—who has yet to score for Japan in 56 appearances—struck the woodwork with Japan's fourth effort, the quarterfinal berth was there for Paraguay's taking.
Paraguay next faces the winner of the late tilt, which sees Spain face Iberian rivals Portugal.
Paraguay: 1-Justo Villar; 14-Paulo Da Silva, 3-Claudio Morel, 13-Enrique Vera, 6-Carlos Bonet, 20-Nestor Ortigoza, 21-Antolin Alcaraz, 10-Edgar Benitez, 16-Cristian Riveros, 9-Roque Santa Cruz, 19-Lucas Barrios.
Japan: 21-Eiji Kawashima; 2-Yuki Abe, 22-Yuji Nakazawa, 4-Marcus Tulio Tanaka, 3-Yuichi Komano; 5-Yuto Nagatomo, 16-Yoshito Okubo, 7-Yasuhito Endo, 17-Makoto Hasebe, 8-Daisuke Matsui, 18-Keisuke Honda.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
Scoring summary (PKs):
PAR: Barreto
JPN: Endo
PAR: Barrios
JPN: Hasebe
PAR: Riveros
JPN: Honda
PAR: Haedo Valdéz
PAR: Cardozo
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