In a World Cup where goals have flown in at a pace not seen since 1958 (2.9 per match), a little known goalkeeper from Guadalajara manufactured the tournament’s standout performance of the first 17 matches on Tuesday night.
Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa became an overnight sensation the world over after casting an impervious barrier in front of his goal against the five-time champions Brazil, as Mexico drew 0-0 in the cauldron of the Estadio Castelao.
Although the match signalled Ochoa’s arrival on the world stage, fans of El Tri have long known the brilliance of the 28-year old who spent eight years at Club America before moving to Ligue 1 side Ajaccio in 2011. Included in the Mexico’s 23-man World Cup squads of 2006 and 2010, Ochoa made his tournament debut in Brazil with his status as Mexico’s number one keeper confirmed just days before their opener against Cameroon.
In the 27th minute of yesterday’s game Ochoa pulled off the save of the tournament so far turning away Neymar’s bullet header after a Dani Alves cross, launching himself toward his right post and miraculously managed to get his right glove on the ball and palm away just before it crossed the line.
A stunned Neymar could only stand in amazement as the Barcelona striker’s reaction went from celebration to stunned disbelief in an instant.
The save brought back memories of Gordon Bank’s save in the 1970 World Cup when the England keeper turned away a header from another Brazilian number 10 down to his right post; a save Pele still calls the best he’s ever seen.
From that moment forward, Ochoa appeared impenetrable and was clearly giving belief to a Mexican side not unaccustomed to slaying the Selecao this millennium, only losing four times in 12 meetings. Alas, playing Brazil in at home in a World Cup requires a tad extra and Ochoa was up to the task.
In the first-half’s closing moments Ochoa broke off his line after Thiago Silva cleverly chested a cross into the path of Paulinho yards from goal, but the Tottenham man was denied as the Mexican blocked the attempt and at that moment an emboldened El Tri quite rightly felt that perhaps this was their night.
In total, Ochoa saved four gilt-edged Brazilian opportunities en route to an eight save performance including denying a Silva point-blank header in the closing minutes.
The breakthrough is also tremendous timing for the former Club America man as he finds himself out- of-contract after Ajaccio were relegated from the French top-flight this season, however, while Ochoa had stated a desire to remain in France a transformational performance on the world’s biggest stage has altered the landscape.
One afternoon in Fortaleza has turned an interest from a handful of Ligue 1 sides such as Marseille and Toulouse into an avalanche of inquiries from Europe’s biggest clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and AC Milan.
“It was the match of my life,” a visibly moved Ochoa said to TV Azetca after the match. “To do it in a World Cup, it’s incredible.”
Ochoa is a testament to the power of the World Cup as last week he was merely a young man from Guadalajara hoping for a chance to finally make his mark and unsure of his club future, he has now been dubbed ‘San Memo’ by his countrymen and is the torch bearer for a nation hungry to finally claim its place on the world’s stage.
