Paraguay, Japan at 0-0 after 30 minutes of round of 16 match at World Cup

Paraguay, Japan at 0-0 after 30 minutes

PRETORIA, South Africa — Paraguay and Japan are 0-0 after 30 minutes of their World Cup second-round match.

After a cautious opening, both sides came close to scoring in the space of less than two minutes.

Paraguay forward Lucas Barrios neatly sidestepped the last defender in the 20th minute, and tried to flick the ball past the goalkeeper with the outside of his right boot. But Eiji Kawashima got down well to block it.

Japan almost went in front in the 22nd when Daisuke Matsui’s 25-yard shot thudded off the crossbar.

Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz had a shot go just wide of the right post in the 29th.