Reporter : Mark Young Follow @markyoung1988
Free agent Guillermo Ochoa produced a man of the match performance to deny Brazil a second World Cup win in Fortaleza.
Thiago Silva and Neymar all had fantastic chances but it was the Mexicans who came away as ultimate party poopers as they silenced the Brazilian crowd.
The match started with a huge amount of noise from both sets of fans throughout the national anthems.
The noise didn’t stop as it carried both sets of players up to a drawn half time with no goals scored but both came very close.
A great cross from the right by Dani Alves found a magnificently leaping Neymar who headed towards the bottom corner but Ochoa leaped too and clawed it out half way through the opening half.
The momentum swayed back and forth with Mexico having some good spells too and came very close with Vasquez shooting from over 20 yards out but it was just wide, despite Julio Cesar’s scrambling across goal.
Neymar almost created the opening goal just before the half time whistle with the home nation’s wonder kid dinking in a free kick from just inside his attacking half. The ball found its way towards a falling, turning Thiago Silva who’s chest control found David Luiz and Paulinho pouncing on the loose ball before Ochoa made another brilliant save leaving the teams going in at half time level in Fortaleza.
Bernard was introduced at half time to add some pace into the Brazil attack and almost repaid that faith straight away as he latched on to a Dani Alves pass down the right wing on for his cross to be headed away by Rodriguez.
Mexico dominated for long spells and were very close with a number of long-range chances but the Brazilian defence stood firm.
Neymar continued to try his luck despite the Mexican dominance with a free kick bending away from Ochoa’s goal.
Brazil’s lack of striking options were shown to be their major down fall as Fred had one of his worst nights in a Brazil jersey to then be replaced by Jo, who’s only chance was snatched at and drifted wide.
The best chance of all came for Brazil’s captain Thiago Silva. The big centre back met a Neymar free kick with five minutes remaining with a good header but it was that Mexican wall of a goalkeeper who stood firm.
Mexico were looking dangerous on the break and were unlucky as substitute Raul Jiminez’s effort was parried out by Julio Cesar and just out of Javier Hernandez’s reach.
Marcelo got beyond the Mexico defence with seconds remaining and went down cheaply with the referee signalling to get up and with Marcelo taking the role of villain it was Ochoa, the free agent, who had golden gloves on a night Brazil will need to improve on.