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Final

Germany 1-0 (ET) Argentina (Gotze 113')

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Game 16 Recap: Brazil 0-0 Mexico

BRAZIL 0-0 MEXICO

You might have to go back to Oliver Kahn in 2002 to find a World Cup goalkeeping display as spectacular as the one put on by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa in this game.

Ochoa turned in 4 phenomenal saves from point blank range to maintain a tie game and ultimately earn a point from their game against the host nation.

In a game largely stuck in the middle with scoring chances from outside the penalty area, it looked for the hosts that they had taken a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. That is until Ochoa turned in one of the  best saves in World Cup memory on Neymar. A cross to the top of the area found Neymar leaping over a defender to direct on goal. Seemingly out of reach, Ochoa somehow reached across his goal to not only get a hand to the ball but ensure it cleared the post on the way out. A remarkable effort considering goal-line technology showed it was directly able the line when Ochoa got hand to it.

That was just the beginning for Ochoa though. Just before the half-time break, Thiago Silva directed the ball with his chest in to the penalty area. Playing an offside trap, Mexico left a point-blank 2-on-0 but Ochoa bravely challenged and saved the chip shot from Paulinho. Middle of the second half, Neymar pulled the ball down in the area and got a strong shot off but straight at Ochoa who saved and directed wide.

Not to be outdone in the end, Silva found himself with an uncontested header from front of goal but the header was too close to Ochoa who threw a hand out to punch it away. Frustrating to say the least for Brazilian players and Mexico owes Ochoa for this one.

Outside of Ochoa's brilliance, Brazil held possession but found themselves frustrated largely by the stout Mexican defence and left themselves open to counter-attack although Mexico was content to hang back. Mexico found themselves unable to penetrate the Brazilian penalty area effectively and rained shots in from distance, coming close but only forcing 1 key save out of Julio Cesar.

It's not the performance Brazilian fans wanted to see and there will surely be questions as a result. Worst part for the hosts may have been pockets of the stadium filled with Mexican green and red and a late chant of MEXICO! ringing around the stadium towards the end.

Goals

Brazil: N/A
Mexico: N/A

Discipline

Brazil: Ramires (Yellow 45'), Thiago Silva (Yellow 79')
Mexico: Paul Aguilar (Yellow 59'), Jose Juan Vazquez (Yellow 62')

Man of the Match

Won't be an easier Man of the Match decision in the tournament. Guillermo Ochoa turned in a goalkeeping performance for the ages and is the sole reason Mexico escaped this match with any points.

Key Moment

Neymar was already beginning to celebrate his 3rd goal of the tournament in the 26th minute. His header should have been unreachable but Guillermo Ochoa somehow not only got his right hand to the ball but scooped it off the line with just one arm. Brazil would have other chances but this was the first sign that Ochoa was in for the game of his life.

What we learned from Brazil

Probably did enough to win if not for Ochoa but not the most promising performance. Their movement in the midfield was inconsistent, they left themselves too exposed on the back end and have a couple glaring personnel issues up front. Hulk missed out with an injury and Fred has been non-existent all tournament. Bernard looked strong off the bench but Ramires and Jo were both ineffective as well. Have to get a combination up front that they can rely on.

What we learned from Mexico

They switched to a 2-3-5 formation for this game to help their defence and it worked to perfection. Yes there were the lapses that Ochoa had to bail them out on but they held as well as can be expected under the constant Brazilian pressure. Their own personnel issues upfront though as Oribe Peralta was again a ghost on the field. May be time to give Javier Hernandez a look up front.

Going Forward 

Brazil will be gloom and doom about this result but they'll still be in first after tomorrow's Group A game regardless. Both teams will need only a draw in their final group matches to advance to the knockout round and both will be favoured to do so against their opponents.

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