World Cup: Japan fail to capitalise on Greece red card as stalemate leaves both teams in dire straits

JAPAN 0 GREECE 0

TEN-MAN Greece held Japan to a frustrating goalless draw that leaves both team’s chances of reaching the last 16 in the balance.

Japan dominated possession in the opening period, but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resilient Greece defence.

On 38 minutes Greece captain Kostas Katsouranis was shown a second yellow card for a lunge at Makoto Hasebe, but the red card briefly bought the best out of his team, and Vasillis Torosidis’s powerful effort was spectacularly pushed wide by goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Japan were again the dominant force in the second period, but could not find the net, Yasuhito Endo going closest with a well-struck free-kick