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.

Greece 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 and that keeps both alive in Group C and sends rival Colombia to the next round of the World Cup.

Both teams inserted new strikers in search of goals and a first victory, but ultimately the goal was survival and both did that with one match left in group play. Japan would have been eliminated with a loss.

Whatever the permutations, a second goalless draw of the tournament offered little to suggest that either of these sides can qualify for the last 16.

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.

Once Katsouaranis 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.