Paraguay deserved 'lucky' win - Martino


Oscar Cordozo

Highlights - Paraguay beat Japan on penalties

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said on balance his team deserved to beat Japan and reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Oscar Cardozo converted the decisive spot-kick as Paraguay won 5-3 on penalties after extra time in a scoreless stalemate in Pretoria.

Martino said: "It's never nice for a match to be decided in this way but I think we sought the win a little more.

"I think we were lucky in the penalty shoot-out. That made the difference."

In a tight encounter chances were few and far between but Martino was just happy to have made the last eight in South Africa.

"Perhaps it wasn't the match people wanted to see but I don't think either team has anything to reproach themselves for," he added.

"When you look at how the players played, the solidarity they showed, their enthusiasm, their will to make the history books, both teams did it the same way.

"To speak of an achievement in getting to the quarter-finals is all right but to consider this my greatest achievement is, I think, a bit premature."

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