Hosts and World Cup favourites Brazil
were held to a 0-0 draw by Mexico on
Tuesday in an absorbing Group A match
in the deafening cauldron of Fortaleza's
Castelao arena.
Brazil failed time and again to break
down a stubborn defence backed up by
inspired goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa
but the Mexicans also created several
decent chances in another entertaining
game.
Paulinho, Neymar and Thiago Silva all
came close to finding the back of the
net but were thwarted by Ochoa. Thiago
Silva almost stole the match in the
dying minutes but the Mexican keeper
parried away his point-blank header.
The draw brought to an end Brazil's 10-
match winning streak, dating back to
August.
It also meant that to make the second round of the tournament
both teams need points from their final group games on June 23
when Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia and Mexico meet Croatia in
Recife.
Brazil bossed the match from the outset with Marcelo and Oscar
causing mischief down the left and Neymar showing the
occasional burst of brilliance in the middle.
Neymar's header from a Dani Alves free kick on 26 minutes forced
the first fine save from Ochoa, who beat the ball away at his right
hand post as it headed goalwards.
Brazil's best chance of the half came just before the break. Oscar
floated a free kick into the box, Thiago Silva chested it down into
the path of Paulinho, who just failed to scoop the ball over the
keeper from close range.
At the other end, Mexico were restricted to long-range efforts from
Miguel Layun, Jose Vasquez and Hector Herrera, none of which
seriously troubled Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal.
This was the first time that Mexico had held Brazil to a draw at a
World Cup. Their previous three clashes ended in comprehensive
victories for the Brazilians, 5-0, 4-0 and 2-0.
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