Brazil 0-0 Mexico

Highlights: Brazil 0-0 Mexico

Story of the match:

• Brazil denied by Ochoa brilliance
• Scolari's men disappoint in second Group A game
• Both sides on four points
• Brazil unbeaten in 39 successive matches in own country

Brazil produced an unconvincing display as Mexico held them to a goalless draw with an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were again well short of their best in a cauldron of an atmosphere at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza.

Match analysis

Former Scotland international Pat NevinBBC Radio 5 live

"Brazil played against a good Mexico side. On several occasions Guillermo Ochoa showed lightning quick reactions - as a single individual he was definitely man of the match.

"It's not the end of the world for Brazil, and they created good chances.

"The real disappointment for me was Fred. The comer flag moved better than he did. Jo was much better.

"We shouldn't judge Jo just on what he did in England with Manchester City. But Fred is one of those players who can come back."

Neymar and captain Thiago Silva had the best of Brazil's chances but were denied by Ochoa.

Mexico more than held their own, testing home keeper Julio Cesar through substitute Raul Jiminez and peppering his goal in a breathless second half.

The result leaves both sides with a chance of topping Group A. Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia in their final match, knowing a point will be enough to see them through.

This was a game in which the hosts' reliance on the brilliance of Neymar and Oscar was exposed. Fred failed to appease his critics with a toothless display in attack, while Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo lacked imagination in midfield.

It is not the first time Brazil have struggled against Mexico - no team has beaten them more often in the 21st century - and they were fortunate not to lose again.

Ochoa, who has left French club Ajaccio, was in exceptional form

Neymar was in the thick of the action from the off, dancing away from Mexico defenders, and drawing several fouls.

Question marks over Brazil - BBC's Tim Vickery

And it was the Barcelona striker who had the best of the early chances. From Dani Alves' cross he rose high at the back post to head powerfully towards goal. Ochoa threw himself to his right to tip the ball to safety.

In Brazil the save was compared to Gordon Banks' famous dive to keep out Pele's header in the 1970 World Cup.

Ochoa made another vital save with half-time approaching, spreading himself to smother a close-range stab by Paulinho, after Silva chested on a free-kick.

But Mexico gave every bit as good as they got.

Match facts

• Brazil's Fred only completed eight of his 16 passes against Mexico
• Only two of Brazil's last 26 World Cup games have ended goalless
• Brazil had won their three previous World Cup meetings with Mexico, by a combined score of 11-0
• Ochoa made six saves in this game. No keeper has made more in a game in this World Cup so far (Rais M'bolhi of Algeria also made six saves, against Belgium)

Oribe Peralta led wave after wave of Mexico attacks, but it was Hector Herrera and Jose Juan Vazquez who went closest before the interval with piercing shots from distance, one of which Cesar tipped over, while the other whistled just wide.

Though Brazil remained short of their fluent best, the introduction of Bernard for Ramires at half-time added zip to their attack.

Neymar curled a free-kick wide and went closer still as he chested down Bernard's cross and drilled a fierce low shot at goal, only for Ochoa to deny him once more.

Former Manchester City striker Jo, on as a substitute, dragged a shot wide as Brazil became increasingly desperate for a goal.

Andres Guardado fizzed a shot just over Cesar's crossbar, while the Brazil goalkeeper had to react quickly to turn away a thunderous low shot from substitute Jiminez. Mexico finished the game with purpose and belief. Brazil must do better.

(left to right) Gustavo, Marcelo and Luiz were in good voice during the playing of the Brazil anthem

Mexico were well supported inside Estadio Castelao

Ochoa's save from Neymar's header was compared to Gordon Banks' famous save from Pele at the 1970 World Cup.

Brazil keeper Cesar had little to do but produced a good save to deny Herrera

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Brazil

Formation 4-2-3-1

12Soares de Espindola

2Alves da Silva3Thiago Silva4David Luiz6Marcelo

8Paulinho17Dias

16Santos do Nascimento10Neymar11Oscar

9Chaves Guedes

• 12Soares de Espindola
• 2Alves da Silva
• 3Thiago SilvaBooked at 79mins
• 4David Luiz
• 6Marcelo
• 8Paulinho
• 17Dias
• 16Santos do NascimentoBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBernardat 45'minutes
• 10Neymar
• 11OscarSubstituted forWillianat 84'minutes
• 9Chaves GuedesSubstituted forde Assis Silvaat 68'minutes

Substitutes

• 1de Oliveira Galvao
• 5Fernandinho
• 7Vieira de Souza
• 13Costa Santos
• 14Cabelino Andrade
• 15Buss
• 18de Carvalho Andrade Lima
• 19Willian
• 20Bernard
• 21de Assis Silva
• 22Bagy
• 23Sisenando

Mexico

Formation 5-3-2

13Ochoa

22Aguilar2Rodríguez4Márquez15Moreno7Layún

6Herrera23Vázquez18Guardado

19Peralta10G dos Santos

• 13Ochoa
• 22AguilarBooked at 59mins
• 2Rodríguez
• 4Márquez
• 15Moreno
• 7Layún
• 6HerreraSubstituted forFabiánat 76'minutes
• 23VázquezBooked at 62mins
• 18Guardado
• 19PeraltaSubstituted forHernándezat 74'minutes
• 10G dos SantosSubstituted forJiménezat 84'minutes

Substitutes

• 1J Corona
• 3Salcido
• 5Reyes
• 8Fabián
• 9Jiménez
• 11Pulido
• 12Talavera
• 14Hernández
• 16Ponce
• 17Brizuela
• 20Aquino
• 21Peña

Referee:

Cüneyt Çakir

Attendance:

60,342

Match Stats

Home TeamBrazilAway TeamMexico

Possession

Home53%

Away47%

Shots

Home14

Away13

Shots on Target

Home6

Away2

Corners

Home4

Away3

Fouls

Home13

Away18

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Brazil 0, Mexico 0.

2. 90'+3'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Brazil 0, Mexico 0.

3. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Foul by Willian (Brazil).

4. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Rafael Márquez (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrés Guardado.

6. 90'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Andrés Guardado (Mexico) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is just a bit too high following a corner.

7. 89'

   Post update

   Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Bernard.

8. 88'

   Post update

   Willian (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. 88'

   Post update

   Foul by Marco Fabián (Mexico).

10. 87'

    Post update

    Foul by Luiz Gustavo (Brazil).

11. 87'

    Post update

    Javier Hernández (Mexico) wins a free kick on the right wing.

12. 86'

    Post update

    Offside, Brazil. Willian tries a through ball, but Jô is caught offside.

13. 86'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Willian (Brazil) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

14. 86'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Thiago Silva (Brazil) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neymar with a cross.

15. 85'

    Post update

    Luiz Gustavo (Brazil) wins a free kick on the left wing.

16. 85'

    Post update

    Foul by Francisco Javier Rodríguez (Mexico).

17. 84'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Brazil. Willian replaces Oscar.

18. 84'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Mexico. Raúl Jiménez replaces Giovani dos Santos.

19. 81'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Giovani dos Santos (Mexico) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

20. 79'

    Booking

    Thiago Silva (Brazil) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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