Guillermo Ochoa is effectively a free agent, but the queue of clubs hoping to acquire the goalkeeper’s services will have lengthened after his exceptional performance in helping Mexico hold Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the World Cup.
“It was the best game of my life,” said Ochoa, 28, after he produced several stunning stops to frustrate Brazil at the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza.
One stop in the first half, down low to his right to keep out Neymar’s header, had shades of a legendary save by England’s Gordon Banks to deny Pele in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
And he would surely have won the man of the match award even without producing incredible reactions to block the unmarked Thiago Silva’s header from point-blank range late on.
“There is no doubt that today was the best game of my life, because of who we were playing — the hosts of the World Cup,” added Ochoa.
“At Neymar’s header I didn’t think I would get there because it surprised me that he jumped above (Mexico captain) Rafa Marquez, but luckily I got there.”
Mexico have now kept clean sheets in each of their two Group A games, following a 1-0 success against Cameroon in Natal last Friday, and qualification for the last 16 is in their hands going into the final group game with Croatia on June 23. Continue reading…