Paraguay and Japan locked in sterile stalemate

Paraguay and Japan were locked in a tense 0-0 stalemate in their World Cup last 16 match at the Loftus Versfeld stadium on Tuesday.

Yoshito Okubo had an early chance for the Asian side but shot well wide, while at the other end Edgar Benitez couldn’t keep his header down from Roque Santa Cruz’s inviting cross.

The game briefly exploded into life on 21 minutes as Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios sneaked in behind the defence with a lovely little drag back to beat his marker but then he prodded his shot straight at goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Less than 60 seconds later Daisuke Matsui ran onto a loose ball and tried his luck from distance only to see his curler crash against the Paraguay crossbar.

On 29 minutes Manchester City striker Santa Cruz should have done better when the ball dropped to him 12 yards out, but he rushed his left foot volley and dragged the ball wide.

Japan star Keisuke Honda set his sights five minutes from the break but his left-foot effort from 20 yards drifted wide.