WC 2014: Outstanding Ochoa thwarts Brazil as Mexico escape with draw

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a series of outstanding saves to help Mexico hold Brazil to a pulsating 0-0 draw at the World Cup on Tuesday. The result leaves both teams with four points each after two games in Group A, ahead of their decisive final matches. Croatia and Cameroon meet on Wednesday for their second games after both opened with defeats. Ochoa’s first remarkable save prevented Neymar from scoring in the 26th minute. The Brazil striker’s powerful header looked set to fly just inside the post when the goalkeeper dived to his right to push the ball wide. [caption id=“attachment_1575629” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ochoa’s first remarkable save prevented Neymar from scoring in the 26th minute. AP[/caption] Ochoa also made three other difficult saves to keep the hosts from breaking the deadlock — a shot by Paulinho in the 44th, a second-half effort by Neymar from inside the area and a close-range header by Thiago Silva in the 86th minute which produced a remarkable block by the Mexico keeper. After that, there was still time for a thrilling end to the game in the northeastern city of Fortaleza. The referee dismissed Brazilian claims for a penalty after Marcelo seemed to have been grabbed in the 88th minute. Mexico then had two great chances, first with Andres Guardado’s shot over the crossbar in the 90th and then with an effort by Raul Jimenez that was stopped by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar in injury time. It was an evenly-balanced game at the Arena Castelao, with Mexico not allowing Brazil to take control. El Tri didn’t play defensively and created chances throughout the match, especially with long-range shots, while Brazil turned up the pressure in the second half. But there was no getting past Ochoa. He denied Paulinho just before halftime, blocking the midfielder’s shot after a loose ball inside the area, and then got his body in the way of Neymar’s drive from inside the area. In the 86th, he was there on cue to block Silva’s powerful header from point-blank range. Fans wearing Brazil’s green and yellow colors were the majority as expected, but Mexicans took over large seating sections of the stadium and at times were louder than the local fans. Among those in the crowd of 60,342 was NBA star Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers. AP