Guillermo Ochoa was in inspired form and personal best as stubborn Mexico frustrated World Cup hosts Brazil to earn a 0-0 draw, substitute Alexandr Kerzhakov came off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw for Russia against S Korea and Belgium made a stunning rally to beat Algeria 2-1.
Brazil – Mexico : 0-0
Brazil were far from their best as they struggled to create too many goalscoring opportunities and when they did they could not find a way past Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Ochoa produced four fine saves to deny Brazil in the 90 minutes to earn his side a point which takes both teams to four from their opening two games.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiwI-5kvNH8[/youtube]
Belgium – Algeria : 2-1
Belgium, seen by many as genuine contenders in Brazil, were losing to Sofiane Feghouli's first-half penalty until coach Marc Wilmots made all three substitutions by the 65th minute.
First Fellaini levelled with a towering header 20 minutes from time then Mertens, sent on at the interval, rifled home Eden Hazard's 80th-minute pass. Wilmots' changes continued to reap benefits when Mertens put his side ahead 10 minutes later.De Bruyne was involved again, this time winning back possession by tackling Feghouli.That set in motion a swift counter and Hazard read the situation perfectly, drawing the defence before finding Mertens who rifled home.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O89fOIGFa4k[/youtube]
Russia – South Korea : 1-1
Russia fought back to draw 1-1 with South Korea at the World Cup, after a howler from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.The CSKA Moscow keeper tried to catch a goal-bound effort from substitute Lee Keun-Ho but it bounced off his hands and into the net on 68 minutes to hand Hong Myung-Bo's men the lead at the Arena Pantanal.
Another sub Aleksandr Kerzhakov then came to Akinfeev's and Russia's rescue six minutes later. Tucking away an equaliser just three minutes after coming on, taking advantage of a scramble in the box created by a dangerous ball in from another substitute Alan Dzagoev. It was his 26th goal, which ties him for the nation's all-time goal-scoring record with Vladimir Beschastnykh.
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JD6YdCrgXg[/youtube]
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