World Cup 2010: Japan Vs Paraguay- First Half Report
The Penultimate match of the round of 16 in FIFA world cup Between Japan and Paraguay did not produce any goals in the first half, but it was not a stalemate by any stretch of the imagination.
Both teams produced some competitive football and each had their share of chances, it was probably down to hard luck and some good work from both goalkeepers that kept the scores level.
Over to the action on the pitch, both team Led out by their captains, Justo Villar of Paraguay and Makoto Hasebe of Japan emerged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria looking to continue the world cup dream
Japan got the game running , and within just 20 seconds in and they thought they had the first shot on goal - Yoshito Okubo latched on to a wayward pass in the Paraguay midfield and firing a low drive a yard wide of Justo Villar's goal from 25 yards out.
Paraguay though quickly shook off that early slip up and settled rather nicely into their passing game. While Japan looked happy to sit and soak the pressure.
Soon there was a Cracking ball into the middle from the right by Roque Santa Cruz and Paraguay's Edgar Benitez did his best to get his head on it in the box - only to be wiped out in the air by his own player, the onrushing Cristian Riveros.
Paraguay enjoyed plenty of the ball possession in their own half, but when they got within 50-odd yards of the Japan box, they were confronted by a wave of blue shirts.
5 minutes later there was a Japan free-kick 30 yards out - and they have already shown in the world how dangerous they can be from here against Denmark last time out - but Yasuhito Endo's whipped effort was headed away by Paulo da Silva and a rare Japan foray into the opposition's half came to nothing.
It was turning out to be a real midfield battle out in Pretoria, with Japan and Paraguay favouring discipline over ambition. A spark was needed and that was almost what happened next - Paraguay front man Lucas Barrios rolled his foot over the ball and turned deliciously inside the Japan box to find himself one-on-one, only for his low effort to be kept out brilliantly by keeper Eiji Kawashima.
Japan bounced and came within a whisker of the opener themselves, Daisuke Matsui swung in a dipping effort from range right-footed that beat the keeper but not the crossbar. It sure could have been a contender for goal of the tournament.
The trend continued as the game became more open in the final 15 minutes, but the half ended 0-0, there will be at least 2 goals in the 2nd half, if each side get one, we may be heading to extra time.
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