Paraguay progressed through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Japan 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw 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 shoot-out of the 2010 World Cup to separate the two nations.

And it was Paraguay who emerged victorious after Japan defender Yuichi Komano, looking to make it 3-3, slammed his effort against the crossbar.