Japan-Greece stalemate sends Colombia through
Japan and 10-man Greece played out a stalemate that keeps alive both teams' chances of progressing from Group C.Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off for two bookable offences before the break in Natal.
The Greeks went close with a second-half header from Theofanis Gekas, which was saved by Eiji Kawashima.
Yoshito Okubo missed from just a couple of yards and Atsuto Uchida also prodded wide from a good position as Japan were left frustrated.
Greece managed a clean sheet for the first time in a World Cup match and managed to avoid defeat for just the second time in their eight matches. The only game they have scored in during that run was a 2-1 win over Nigeria four years ago.
Japan face Colombia, who have already qualified with six points, and a win could still take them above Ivory Coast, whose current tally is three points.
