Brazil drew 0-0 with Mexico at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza on Tuesday night in the World Cup.
The Selecao frustrated by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa during an entertaining match as both sides failed to score, but ended with their tournament progress in their own hands when their final Group A matches take place on June 23.
In a first-half that witnessed some robust challenges from the Mexicans Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side were allowed the majority of possession and left to try and penetrate a disciplined Mexico, just as they versus Croatia.
However, Brazil nearly took an early lead when Oscar crafted a wonderful cross with the outside of his boot just inside the box, but Fred side-footed wide, although then confirmed as offside. Had it not been for the striker constantly being caught offside they may have fashioned more chances.
Instead it was Mexico who nearly took the lead on 24 minutes, Hector Herrera with a shot from distance that was brilliantly tipped over by Julio Cesar, but to add insult to injury Mexico were not even awarded a corner-kick.
From that moment the match became more open and within minutes Brazil themselves nearly scored after full-back Dani Alves swung an excellent cross into the box that Neymar rose high to meet and force an wonderful diving save from Ochoa.
With Miguel Herrera’s men still reduced to shots from distance it was the ‘visitors’ who nearly went into half-time ahead when another long range attempt from Jose Vazquez bounced just in front of a nervous Cesar and flashed wide.
However, Brazil quickly reasserted themselves before the break and it took a stunning point-blank save from Ochoa to keep out Paulinho after captain Thiago Silva had chested a free-kick into his path.
At the break Bernard was brought on to breathe some life into the Brazil attacker and instantly found himself breaking down the right hand side, but he was too quick for his teammates and his cross was comfortably dealt cleared for a corner.
On 63 minutes Neymar had the chance to take the spotlight once more with a perfectly position free-kick, but could only curl his shot wide of Ochoa’s right-hand post.
With his next chance the Barcelona striker did test the Mexican goalkeeper, releasing a snapshot with his weaker left foot from 10 yards, but despite it skipping up off the turf at speed was palmed away.
With just over 20 minutes remaining Jo replaced the largely ineffectual Fred and soon showed more aptitude at remaining onside, however, despite timing his run perfectly rushed his shot a drilled well wide.
Brazil nearly hit the panic button on 80 minutes, their gun-hoe attitude leaving them exposed at the back and Silva having to commit a reckless challenge on substitute Javier Hernandez just outside the box but were saved by a terrible free-kick.
With five minutes remaining Ochoa was undertaking his heroics once more when Silva powerfully met a Neymar free-kick on the six-yard box, but the goalkeeper again palmed away instinctively.
With Cameroon arguably the weakest of their quartet up next, and likely to be without star striker Samuel Eto’o, the team will head to Brasilia confident that they can secure points to make the knockout stages.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
