FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0, Mexico 0

Attack-minded Brazil was held to a scoreless draw by Mexico in its second match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa was the story of the match, making several amazing stops to keep Brazil off the scoresheet, including a dazzling parry off a pinpoint Neymar header. 

Both teams are tied on points atop the Group A standings, with Brazil holding the tiebreaker edge thanks to goals scored.

Key play

A surefire Brazilian goal was parried off of the Mexican line by Ochoa, which will go down as one of the all-time saves in World Cup history. Brazil’s Dani Alves whipped in a cross and Neymar laid a perfect header towards the far post. But Ochoa somehow dove to his right and parried the ball off the goal-line.

Impressed? So are we. It was eerily similar to Gordon Banks’ save on Pele in 1970, widely considered the greatest stop in World Cup history.

Man of the match

Guillermo Ochoa. No question. The best goalkeeping performance at a World Cup in recent memory, with maybe the greatest save at a World Cup.

It was a good day for…

Fiestas. Mexico was overwhelmed with the support it received from fans in front of the team's hotel room, who serenaded the squad long into the night on Sunday, replete with mariachi band. And El Tri looked inspired against the hosts. 

It was a bad day for…

Fred. The Brazilian striker was ineffective and subbed off after 68 minutes. 

The number

10. Brazil’s winning streak coming into the match against Mexico, the longest active streak in international football.

What does this mean?

This is the second straight lackluster performance by the hosts, and if fans weren’t worried before, they must be now. The Selecao are still likely to win the group with a weak Cameroon side coming up in the next match on Monday (CBC TV, cbc.ca/fifaworldcup, 4 p.m. ET), but a difficult match will await the side in the round of 16.

Mexico looks inspired in its first two matches and it’ll set up a barnstormer of a game against Croatia on Monday (CBC TV, cbc.ca/fifaworldcup, 4 p.m. ET), the winner of which likely to join Brazil in the round of 16. 

They said it

"People have to be aware that we’re coming up against good-quality teams. Being on top of the group doesn’t make this a good result, because we’d have qualified with a win, but we have to show respect for our opponents – who are a very good side." — Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil manager

"This is special, it’s for my family. They’re the ones who are there for me in the good times and the bad. Of course it was worth the wait [to play in a FIFA World Cup]. I never doubted my ability." — Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico goalkeeper