Ochoa the standout for valiant Mexicans
Print Edition
HE’D stopped two of the world’s most famous forwards, and on Sunday, Brazilians and Mexicans alike chanted his name.
Guillermo Ochoa was one of the main reasons why Mexico was on the brink of reaching the quarterfinals at the World Cup — before the Netherlands came from a goal down to win 2-1 with two late goals.
Voted man of the match, he was inconsolable.
“It isn’t easy to go out this way, the way this match went,” said a keeper who had denied Brazil star Neymar and Dutch forward Arjen Robben. “It’s just very hard to deal with when victory escapes you this way.”
However, the 28-year-old keeper, who plays for French second division team Ajaccio, almost single-handedly held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in the group stage and then kept the Dutch at bay until the final minutes in the second round on Sunday.
He twice prevented what looked like certain goals, getting between Stefan de Vrij and the ball in the 57th minute and then dropping down to stop Robben nine minutes later. Eventually, Ochoa was beaten by Wesley Sneijder in the 88th, with almost no time to react to his powerful low volley that traveled through a crowded penalty area. And he was given no chance by Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s coolly-taken penalty in injury time that secured victory for the Netherlands.
But he’ll be remembered for what he saved.
Against Brazil, he twice stopped Neymar, diving at full stretch to push his header past the post and later blocking his goal-bound shot.
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