Paraguay beat Japan 5-3 on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after their second round tie ended in a goalless extra-time stalemate on Tuesday.
Japan's Yuichi Komano hit the crossbar with his team's third spot kick, the only one missed in the first shootout of the finals.
Paraguay were seeking to become the fourth South American team in the quarter-finals after Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Japan were Asia's sole surviving representatives.
Paraguay will play the winner of the Spain v Portugal match being played later on Tuesday in Cape Town in the quarter-finals.
