SOCCER: After goals galore at World Cup, Paraguay and Australia serve up a snoozefest

SANTA CLARA, California — In a World Cup filled with late drama and a steady flow of goals, Thursday’s goalless draw between Paraguay and Australia stood out for its lack of urgency and attacking quality, as both sides settled into a cautious Group D finale.

What had been billed as a high-stakes, winner-takes-all encounter instead unfolded as a tight, disjointed contest. Neither team appeared willing to take significant risks, and the match drifted toward a 0-0 result that ultimately suited both nations in their push for qualification.

Australia emerged the more satisfied side, securing second place in the group and booking a spot in the knockout stage for the third time in their history. Paraguay, meanwhile, remain in a strong position to advance as one of the best third-placed teams in the expanded 48-team format, leaving their tournament fate dependent on results elsewhere.

Long before kickoff, the United States had already clinched top spot in Group D, while Turkey had been eliminated. That context reduced the pressure on the two remaining contenders, with goal difference ultimately deciding Australia’s second-place finish and helping them avoid a group winner in the round of 32.

The match, played in front of a sold-out crowd at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, initially carried an energetic atmosphere. However, as the game progressed, the tempo slowed considerably. Fans, expecting a decisive contest, were often left watching stoppages and repeated fouls, with bursts of Mexican waves providing rare moments of entertainment.

Paraguay struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities, waiting until the 53rd minute to earn their first corner kick of the match, which was also only their second of the entire tournament. Australia generated more attempts overall, but neither side managed to consistently trouble the opposing goalkeeper.

In total, there were 19 shots between the two teams, though few were on target or carried genuine threat, reflecting the conservative approach taken by both sides.

After the match, both coaches rejected suggestions that their teams had played for a draw.

“You can have opinions on how the game was played or what we both thought we needed, but at no stage did we feel we were playing for a draw,” Australia head coach Tony Popovic said. “We tried to win the match, and in the end, the draw was enough for both teams.”

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro echoed the sentiment, emphasizing his team’s defensive organization while acknowledging the difficulty they faced breaking down their opponents.

“We now have to wait. There is some uncertainty about whether we will qualify,” Alfaro said. “But I told the players we did not come here for a draw. We came to win — and they also came to win.”

Despite the lack of goals, the result ultimately served its purpose for both sides, with Australia advancing directly and Paraguay keeping their hopes alive as the group stage draws to a close. -Reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters