Ten-man Greece hang on for draw against Japan

Greece managed to hold on to a 0-0 draw after being reduced to 10 men against Japan in a tight World Cup Group A game with few chances.
The game had already been stagnant before Konstantinos Katsouranis was sent off, but Greece actually enjoyed several chances after his loss, with Ioannis Fetfatzidis and Theofanis Gekas both going close. Japan pushed hard for a winner in the final 20 minutes, but the Greek defence held firm to leave second place in the group wide open.
The first half was a relatively dull affair as both teams became mired in a midfield battle, with chances coming infrequently at both ends of the pitch. But as the half drew to a close, with the game needing something to change it, Greece found themselves down to 10 men. Katsouranis was unfortunate not to get the ball in challenging Makoto Hasebe, but he earned a second yellow card for his trouble and saw his side reduced in number.
Yet surprisingly, it was Greece who would go on to enjoy the better chances for much of the game thereafter. Fetfatzidis forced Eiji Kawashima into a fine save with a fierce effort from outside the area immediately afterwards. And after half-time, the pattern bizarrely continued.