Japan and Ecuador were both knocked out of Copa América as Paraguay went through ©Getty Images

Paraguay qualified for the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams after Ecuador and Japan could only draw their final Group C clash at the Copa América.

The Paraguayans knew a victory for either side in Brazil would send them home but they got the result they wanted as it finished 1-1.

Both Paraguay and Japan ended the group stage on two points with the former going through as the second third-place qualifier on goal difference.

Ecuador finished on just a point as both they and the Japanese went home after the draw at Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte.

In Group C's other match, Uruguay defeated back-to-back defending champions Chile 1-0 to top the pile.

Both sides were already through before today's games.

Japan, one of two invited teams at the tournament from Asia, took the lead thanks to Shoya Nakajima's long range strike after 15 minutes.

Angel Mena tapped home an equaliser 20 minutes later and both sides then spurned chances to score the goal to take them through.

Uruguay left it late to beat Chile with Edinson Cavani's 82nd minute header enough to see them snatch the points and take top spot in the group.

They ended on seven points with Chile second on six.

Edinson Cavani's late header saw Uruguay beat Chile 1-0 ©Getty Images
Edinson Cavani's late header saw Uruguay beat Chile 1-0 ©Getty Images

Despite both sides being through it was a competitive contest at Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracanã Stadium.

There was bad blood when the countries met in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Copa América, with Cavani sent off during Chile's 1-0 victory, and there were wild celebrations to greet the Paris Saint-Germain striker's goal.

With the group stage now complete the quarter-final line-up has been determined.

Group A winners and hosts Brazil are due to meet Paraguay in Porto Alegre when the tournament resumes on Thursday (June 27).

Argentina and Venezuela, the second-placed sides in Group A and B respectively, are set to meet in Rio a day later when Group B winners Colombia will play Chile in São Paulo.

Uruguay are scheduled to meet top-third place finisher Peru in Salvador on Saturday (June 29).

Hosts Brazil are aiming to win the tournament for the ninth time and their first since 2007.

Argentina, beaten in four of the last five finals, have won the event 14 times but their last victory was in 1993.

Uruguay are the record winners having lifted the trophy 15 times.