FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: Paraguay (5)0 - 0(3) Japan | Final score - after penalties

Paraguay through on pens

Paraguay progressed through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Japan in a penalty shoot-out in Pretoria. With neither side able to make the breakthrough during 120 minutes of precious few goalscoring chances or notable incidents, it needed the first shootout of the 2010 World Cup to separate the two nations.

FIFA 2010 World Cup Review: Denmark 1 - 3 Japan

Honda drives Japan through

Japan booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup after outstanding first-half free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo sent them on their way to victory over Denmark in Rustenburg.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Netherlands 1 - 0 Japan

Sneijder wins it for Dutch

Wesley Sneijder's second-half goal handed Holland a narrow win over Japan in their second Group E match and put the Oranje within reach of the last 16 of the World Cup.

After a frustrating opening half for the Dutch side, they finally broke through in the 53rd minute with Sneijder's stinging drive deflected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima into his own net.

Japan had the best chance to level the score one minute from time but an unmarked substitute Shinji Okazaki fired over the bar from just 10 yards as Holland held on for victory.

The Oranje, who had a sea of supporters at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium, dominated possession but had just one shot on goal in the opening half. Rafael van der Vaart's 25-yard shot towards the near post proved an easy save for Kawashima.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk fielded the same line-up that beat Denmark 2-0 in their group opener, with Van der Vaart, Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt playing in support of forward Robin Van Persie.

Holland dominated the early exchanges and created the first chance after four minutes when Van Persie's teasing cross from the left flashed across the goal and just eluded Liverpool striker Kuyt. Shortly after, Sneijder's curled free-kick went over the bar.

At the other end, Yuto Nagatomo's right-footed strike from the edge of the area went wide.

On the half-hour mark, Yuji Nakazawa did well to clear Giovanni van Bronckhorst's cross from the right with Van Persie waiting inside the area. Soon after, Keisuke Honda nodded high from Daisuke Matsui's free-kick. Tulio Nataka then latched onto Yasushito Endo's free-kick and his header went wide as Japan got closer.

Japan first tested Maarten Stekelenburg in the 37th minute, with Matsui's volley forcing a save from the Holland goalkeeper. Five minutes before the break, Honda wasted a good chance when he fired a 40-yard strike way over the bar.

Holland pressed forward more aggressively after the break and Van Persie twice had the chance to break the deadlock. His weak header from Van Bronckhorst's cross proved an easy save for Kawashima and seconds later, the Arsenal striker fired wide from 15 yards.

Holland took the lead soon after. A poor headed clearance from Japan's defence fell to Van Persie who spotted Sneijder and the Inter Milan winger's powerful strike came off Kawashima and into the back of the net.

Japan reacted and Yoshito Okubo forced a good save from Stekelenburg with a stinging drive from 25 yards. Shortly after, Okubo fired over the bar as the Blue Samurai surged for the equaliser.

With 15 minutes remaining, the ever-present Okubo shot wide of the far post as another opportunity went by for Japan.

Substitute Ibrahim Afellay twice had the chance to put the game beyond Japan's reach in the latter stages of the match but his close-range efforts were denied by Kawashima.

With seconds left to play, Okazaki struck wide from close-range, much to the relief of the Dutch fans.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon

Honda goal guaranteed Japan to opening victory

Keisuke Honda's 39th minute goal was enough to give Japan a 1-0 victory over Group E rivals Cameroon in Bloemfontein.

Honda's close-range strike was one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable game at the Free State Stadium.

The CSKA Moscow forward's goal handed a long-awaited victory to Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who had seen his side lose four and draw one of their warm-up matches, scoring only one goal in the process.

While Okada opted for a lone striker in Yoshito Okubo, his Cameroon counterpart Paul Le Guen decided on an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

Despite being one of Africa's brightest hopes Cameroon were toothless, despite having a great deal of possession, although goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a breathtaking save from substitute Mohamadou Idrissou in stoppage time.

Much was expected of skipper Samuel Eto'o but the Inter Milan striker was left frustrated as Japan defended in numbers.

Le Guen saw his side carve out the first opening of the game in the eighth minute when Eto'o released Pierre Webo. He raced to the byline and played the ball into the middle but Eyong Enoh was unable to get a decent touch.

Kawashima then made a good block from Enoh's close range effort before Japan made the breakthrough.

The Cameroon defence failed to cut out Daisuke Matsui's cross to the back post and Honda reacted quickly. He got a superb first touch before clipping the ball beyond a stranded Souleymanou Hamidou.

Cameroon came out with a purpose at the start of the second half and should have equalised in the 49th minute.

Eto'o got the better of two players in a determined run. He played the ball into the path of Eric Choupo-Moting who was clear in front of goal. However the striker failed to test Kawashima, his effort going wide of the post to Japan's relief.

Cameroon were enjoying a decent spell and Choupo-Moting cut inside only to drag his shot off target.

However, Japan almost added a second goal in the 82nd minute when they launched a swift counter-attack.

Makoto Hasebe's shot was parried by the goalkeeper but only landed at the feet of substitute Shinji Ozakaki, who saw the rebound come off the outside of the left post.

Cameroon responded and three minutes later Stephane Mbia's instinctive effort rattled the bar. With the crowd urging them, Cameroon kept pushing players forward in search of the equaliser but Japan stood firm.

However, they had to rely on Kawashima right at the end to give them the victory they had craved. The Kawasaki Frontale shot-stopper has only recently taken the jersey and it was easy to understand why as Cameroon were left frustrated.

Former Lyon, Rangers and Paris St Germain boss Le Guen was hoping Cameroon would make it through to the quarter-finals, but this opening defeat makes that looks an outside bet at the moment, with group rivals Netherlands also chalking up a victory earlier in the day.