FORTALEZA, Brazil -- He was called a hero and a saviour by his Mexican teammates. His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Ochoa made a series of outstanding saves to help his side hold Brazil to a thrilling 0-0 draw on Tuesday. The result left both teams with four points each after two games in Group A, but Brazil is ahead on goal difference going into their decisive final matches. Croatia and Cameroon meet on Wednesday for their second games after both opened with defeats. "We cant avoid talking about their goalkeeper," Brazil striker Fred said. "He came up with at least four miracles." Ochoas first remarkable save prevented Neymar from scoring in the 26th minute. The Brazil strikers powerful header looked set to fly just inside the post when the goalkeeper dove to his right to push the ball wide. Ochoa also made three other difficult saves to keep the hosts from breaking the deadlock -- a shot by Paulinho in the 44th, a second-half effort by Neymar from inside the area and a close-range header by Thiago Silva in the 86th minute which produced a remarkable block by the Mexico goalkeeper. "It was the match of my life," said Ochoa, who was visibly moved after the match. "To do it in a World Cup, in front of all the fans, its incredible." Mexico captain Rafael Marquez said Ochoa was the "saviour" and coach Miguel Herrera called him the "hero" of the match. "He did what we expected him to do, he came up with extraordinary saves," Herrera said. "I cant remember another Mexican goalkeeper doing such a great job in the World Cup." A win by either team would have guaranteed a spot in the next round if Cameroon and Croatia were to draw in the jungle city of Manaus. "In the end, the 0-0 mirrors what happened, it was a very hard-fought match," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "The draw wasnt a good result because a victory would have already allowed us to advance, but we need to be able to respect our opponent, which played very well." Herrera was pleased with his sides performance. "We had a great match against a great rival playing in front of its fans, in its stadium, in its country," he said. "We showed that we can play at the same level as any other team." Brazil had won all three previous World Cup matches between the teams without conceding a goal, but the Latin American rivals hadnt met in the sports showcase tournament since 1962. "We already expected a match this difficult," Fred said. "We tried to score until the end but it wasnt possible. Well have to wait until the next match to try to secure a spot in the next round." It was an evenly balanced game at the Arena Castelao, with Mexico not allowing Brazil to take control. El Tri didnt play defensively and created chances throughout the match, especially with long-range shots by midfielders Hector Herrera and Jose Vazquez. Brazil, playing without striker Hulk, turned up the pressure in the second half, but there was no getting past Ochoa. The 28-year-old goalkeeper denied Paulinho just before halftime, blocking the midfielders shot after a loose ball inside the area, and then got his body in the way of Neymars drive inside the box. In the 86th, he was there on cue to block Silvas powerful header from point-blank range. "The only thing missing was the goal," Scolari said. "We need to give credit to their goalkeeper. He had a great day and that kept us from winning the match. He made some spectacular saves, was the best player of the match." Fans wearing Brazils green and yellow colours were the majority as expected, but Mexicans took over large seating sections of the stadium and at times were louder than the local fans. Among those in the crowd of 60,342 was NBA star Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mexico had won six of the last 10 matches, including in the final of the 2012 London Olympics, keeping the Brazilians from earning their first gold medal in football. In their latest match, Brazil won 2-0 in last years Confederations Cup, also in Fortaleza and also in the second match of the group stage. ------ Lineups: Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho, Oscar (Willian, 84), Ramires (Bernard, 46), Neymar, Fred (Jo, 68). Mexico: Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun, Paul Aguilar, Jose Vazquez, Andres Guardado, Hector Herrera (Marco Fabian, 76), Giovani Dos Santos (Raul Jimenez, 84), Oribe Peralta (Javier Hernandez, 73). Michael Jordan Youth Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. 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Spain, Germany and Italy won Friday to move to the brink of qualifying for next years World Cup, while Cristiano Ronaldos first international hat trick kept Portugal on course for the tournament in Brazil. The Netherlands needed an injury time penalty kick from Robin van Persie for a 2-2 tie at 85th-ranked Estonia, and England moved atop its group with a 4-0 rout of Moldova as Danny Welbeck scored twice following Steven Gerrards first England goal in three years and Rickie Lamberts second in two games. Defending world champion Spain won 2-0 at Finland on goals by Jordi Alba and Alvaro Negredo, opening a three-point lead in Group I over France, which tied 0-0 at Georgia. The nine European group winners qualify for next Junes 32-nation field, and the top eight second-place teams advance to playoffs. In late games in North America and the Caribbean, the United States lost 3-1 at Costa Rica, Mexico was upset 2-1 by visiting Honduras and Panama was held to a 0-0 tie at home by last-place Jamaica. Only five teams are assured World Cup berths thus far: host Brazil and Asian qualifiers Australia, Iran, Japan and South Korea. Germany and Italy would clinch first place in their groups with wins Tuesday. Germany beat Austria 3-0 as Miroslav Klose scored his 68th international goal, tying Gerd Muellers German record. Italy defeated Bulgaria 1-0 on Alberto Gilardinos 38th-minute goal. Ronaldo scored in the 68th, 77th and 83rd minutes as Portugal rallied for a 4-2 win at Northern Ireland. While he has 20 hat tricks for Real Madrid and one for Manchester United, he had never scored three goals in a match for his country. With 43 international goals, he moved two ahead of Eusebio on Portugals career and trails only Pauletas 47. Portugal, which has two games left, opened a two-point lead in Group F over Russia, which has three matches remaining. Belgium opened a five-point lead in Group A with a 2-0 win at Scotland as Steven Defour and Kevin Mirallas scored. Bosnia-Herzegovina lost 1-0 at home to Slovakia and leads Group G on goal difference over Greece, which won 1-0 at Liechtenstein on Costas Mitroglous 72nd-minute goal. Ukraine routed San Marino 9-0 and is one point behind England, which leads Grooup H on goal difference over Montenegro, which tied 1-1 at Poland.dddddddddddd Crowd violence marred Romanias 3-0 win over Hungary in Group D. Five fans and two police officers were injured in pregame skirmishes. Serbia and Croatia drew 1-1 in a heated match between former Yugoslav territories, eliminating the Serbs from contention. In CONCACAF, Honduras won 2-1 at Mexico, sending El Tri to its second-ever home loss in qualifying and first since 2001 against Costa Rica. Oribe Peralta put El Tri ahead in the sixth minute at Mexico Citys Estadio Azteca, but Jerry Bengtson tied the score in the 66th after goalkeeper Jose Corona spilled Oscar Boniek Garcias shot, and Carlo Costly put the Catrachos ahead two minutes later off a long clearance. Costa Rica beat the visiting United States 3-1 on goals by Johnny Acosta, Celso Borges and Joel Campbell, avenging a March loss in a Colorado snow storm. Clint Dempsey converted a penalty kick in his 100th American appearance. Panama was held to a 0-0 tie by visiting Jamaica. The Ticos moved into first place with 14 points, one ahead of the U.S. with three games remaining. Honduras is third with 10 points, Mexico fourth with eight points and Panama is another point back after behind held to a 0-0 tie at home by last-place Jamaica. The top three nations qualify, and the fourth-place finisher goes to a playoff against New Zealand. In South America, Luis Suarez converted a 43rd-minute penalty kick and added a 67th-minute goal, lifting Uruguay to a 2-1 win at Peru, which got an 84th-minute goal from Jefferson Farfan. Colombia won 1-0 at home against Ecuador on James Rodriguezs 31st-minute goal; Paraguay routed visiting Bolivia 4-0 on goals by Jonathan Fabbro, Roque Santa Cruz, Richard Ortiz and Gustavo Gomez; Chile defeated Venezuela 3-0 on goals by Eduardo Vargas, Marcos Gonzalez and Arturo Vidal. Argentina and Colombia lead with 26 points each, while Chile has 24, Ecuador 21 and Uruguay 19. Venezuela trails with 16, two in front of Peru. The top four teams qualify. In the first leg of the Asian playoff, Uzbekistan tied 1-1 at Jordan. The second leg is Tuesday, and the winner advances to a playoff against South Americas fifth-place team. ' ' '