BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WORLD CUP 2014 hosts Brazil were frustrated yesterday (Jun. 17) by Latin American rivals Mexico as they both played out to a nil-all draw in their second game within Group A.
Skysports reported that the hosts were far from their potential as they failed to create enough goal scoring opportunities and also found difficulty in beating Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
It also reported that the game began at a fast and frenetic pace as tackles flew in from both sides.
The first serious effort at goal came in the 18th minute when Luiz Gustavo's shot from fully 35 yards flew well wide of the target as Brazil struggled to make any inroad against a well-organised Mexican defence.
The media outlet also reported that Brazil were denied the opportunity to break the deadlock after 26 minutes when Neymar rose highest to meet Dani Alves' cross from the right to head powerfully goalwards, only to be denied by Ochoa who clawed out the ball low down to his right.
In the first game of the day, goals by substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens led Belgium’s comeback in their clash with Algeria 2-1.
The star-studded Belgium side is seen by most football pundits as the dark horse to take the title in Brazil. However, their opening match got off to a horrific start when Sofiane Feghouli's first half penalty gave Algeria the lead.
According to Skysports, Coach Marc Wilmots made all three substitutions by the 65th minute, and that move seemed to have made a difference in the game.
Fellaini equalised with a towering header on the 70th minute while Martens hammered home Eden Hazard's 80th-minute pass.
And Russia recovered from an astonishing goalkeeping blunder by Igor Akinfeev to draw 1-all with South Korea in their World Cup Group H clash in Cuiaba.
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