NATAL, Brazil (AP) — Reduced to 10 men after captain Costas Katsouranis was sent off in the 38th minute with his second booking, Greece held on for a 0-0 draw with Japan on Thursday that kept both alive in Group C and sent rival Colombia through to the knockout round of the World Cup.
Both teams inserted new strikers in search of goals and a first victory, but ultimately the main objective was survival and both achieved that with one match left in group play. Japan would have been eliminated with a loss.
Once Katsouranis was sent off after a rough challenge on Makoto Hasebe, Greece withdrew into a defensive setup and held firm. Greece surrendered three goals in a loss to Colombia, but even short-handed was better organized against Japan and avoided any critical mistakes.
Group C Standings
Wins
Draws
Losses
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
Colombia
2
0
0
5
1
6
Ivory Coast
1
1
0
3
3
3
Japan
0
1
1
1
2
1
Greece
0
1
1
0
3
1
Schedule & Results
Saturday, June 14
Colombia 3, Greece 0
Ivory Coast 2, Japan 1
Thursday, June 19
Colombia 2, Ivory Coast 1
Japan 0, Greece 0
Tuesday, June 24
4 p.m.: Japan vs Colombia at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
4 p.m.: Greece vs Ivory Coast at Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
