SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Paraguay fans celebrate dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Japan

Record ID: 454627

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Paraguay fans celebrate dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Japan
  • Date: 30th June 2010
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 29, 2010) (REUTERS) FANS LEAVING JAPAN V. PARAGUAY MATCH VARIOUS OF PARAGUAY FANS CELEBRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAY FAN, VICTOR GODOY, SAYING: "I have confidence in the team. We have to support them they are a good team. I say we will go through, there is confidence. We have to win there." VARIOUS OF PARAGUAY FANS CELEBRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAY FAN, ALBERTO VILLARBA, SAYING: "I think that we are in the semi-finals. There is no way to explain this. This is the first time in history that Paraguay is in the quarter-finals." FANS LEAVING STADIUM VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS STANDING OUTSIDE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN FAN SAYING: "We could have won, only one goal" JAPAN FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese - ROUGH TRANSLATION) JAPAN FAN, TOSHI OKADA, SAYING: "Japan put up a good fight against Paraguay, but we were unlucky after a penalty, but for years from now, we'll be back, and Japan will be champion." VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese - ROUGH TRANSLATION) JAPAN FAN, AIZAWA,SAYING: "The Japanese team played the best game and we are encouraged for the future. Now we feel sad, but encouraged. Thank you Japanese team." VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS LEAVING STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACSVNFAIKUD49RIFRYKY78E8Y2
  • Story Text: Paraguay beat Japan in a penalty shootout on Tuesday (June 29) to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and outside the stadium in Pretoria their fans celebrated and started to dream of getting through to the semi-finals.
    "I have confidence in the team. We have to support them they are a good team. I say we will go through, there is confidence. We have to win there," said Paraguay fan Victor Godoy after the match.
    Paraguay won the penalty shootout 5-3 after the two sides fought a dull match to a goalless stalemate after extra time and will next meet the winner of Tuesday's later match between Iberian neighbours Spain and Portugal.
    "I think that we are in the semi-finals. There is no way to explain this. This is the first time in history that Paraguay is in the quarter-finals," said Paraguay fan, Alberto Villarba.
    In Tuesday's match, Japan's Yuichi Komano hit the crossbar with the third spot kick, the only one missed in the first shootout of the finals. They succumbed to a powerful jinx that has prevented any Asian team ever beating a South American side in the World Cup.
    "Japan put up a good fight against Paraguay, but we were unlucky after a penalty, but for years from now, we'll be back, and Japan will be champion," said Toshi Okada.
    While most Japan fans poured out of the stadium with sad looks on their faces, many were happy with their team's performance.
    "The Japanese team played the best game and we are encouraged to play again. Now we feel sad, but encouraged. Thank you Japanese team," said Aizawa.
    Paraguay, who join Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in the last eight, made no mistakes. It will be the first time four South American teams have reached the quarter-finals.
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