A draw that suits everyone: Paraguay and Australia play out a goalless game and both go through

Paraguay and Australia drew 0-0 in San Francisco in a cagey final Group D game that sent both sides into the World Cup knockouts. The night also made history, as 18-year-old Lucas Herrington became the youngest player ever to start a World Cup match for the Socceroos.

Some goalless draws are a disappointment. This one was a mutual triumph. Paraguay and Australia played out a cautious 0-0 in San Francisco that sent both teams into the World Cup knockouts, Australia second in Group D and Paraguay through as one of the best third-placed sides. Neither took many risks, and neither needed to.

With progression all but guaranteed by a draw, both sides kept it tight. The game produced barely a single expected goal between them, a chess match more than a shoot-out, and the few real openings fell to Australia, who edged the shots and the territory without finding a way through.

When Australia did threaten, they found Orlando Gill in their way. The Paraguay goalkeeper made five saves to preserve his clean sheet, the standout performer on a quiet night.

There was history in the Australia line-up. Lucas Herrington, at eighteen years and two hundred and ninety-four days, became the youngest player ever to start a World Cup match for the Socceroos, a marker of a nation investing in its future.

Both go through. The United States had already won Group D, leaving the runner-up and best-third places to settle, and a point apiece did the job for Australia and Paraguay alike. Turkey, who beat the USA on the final night, were the unlucky ones, going out despite their win.

It was a fitting end to a tight group. Australia's campaign, built on results like their meeting with the USA, and Paraguay's, including their game with Turkey, both did just enough. Now the real tournament begins.

For Kenya, a goalless draw is never the highlight reel, but there is something to admire in two sides managing a game to perfection. And in Herrington there is a story to follow, a teenager on the world's biggest stage. Mpira si magoli tu, ni akili pia: football is not only goals, it is brains too. Both teams move on, and the knockouts are where it gets serious. Our Asia round-one verdict had Australia among the better-organised sides, and they have done their job.