Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa pulled off two outstanding saves to deny Neymar as a battling Mexico held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group A match on Tuesday, ending the hosts' 10-game winning streak, dating back to August, at the deafening cauldron of Fortaleza's Castelao arena.
Brazil failed time and again to break down a stubborn defence backed up by an inspired Ochoa, but the Mexicans also created several decent chances in another entertaining game.
Paulinho, Neymar and Thiago Silva all came close to finding the back of the net but were thwarted by Ochoa.
Thiago Silva almost stole the match in the dying minutes but the Mexican keeper parried away his point-blank header.
It also meant that to make the second round of the tournament both teams need points from their final group games on June 23 when Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia and Mexico meet Croatia in Recife.
Brazil controlled the match from the outset with Marcelo and Oscar causing problems to the Mexicans down the left and Neymar showing the occasional burst of brilliance in the middle.
Neymar's header from a Dani Alves free-kick in the 26th minute forced the first fine save from Ochoa, who beat the ball away at his right hand post as it headed goalwards.
Brazil's best chance of the half came just before the break.
Oscar floated a free-kick into the box, Thiago Silva chested it down into the path of Paulinho, who just failed to scoop the ball over the keeper from close range.
At the other end, Mexico were restricted to long-range efforts from Miguel Layun, Jose Vasquez and Hector Herrera, none of which seriously troubled Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal.
This was the first time that Mexico had held Brazil to a draw at a World Cup.
Their previous three clashes ended in comprehensive victories for the Brazilians, 5-0, 4-0 and 2-0.
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Image: Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a save in the Group A match against Brazil.
Photograph: Pool/Getty Images
