FIFA World Cup 2014 Day 6 Roundup: Group H sees only Belgium victorious, Ochoa magic denies Brazil all three points

Subs save the day for Belgium

Marouane Fellaini of Belgium (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with head coach Marc Wilmots during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between Belgium and Algeria at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Two late goals from two substitutes salvaged the day for Belgium. A few days after Alejandro Sabella had the footballing world in a daze with his tactics; Belgium coach Marc Wilmots seemingly hit the same button. Belgium, who had enjoyed great success during the qualifiers in a 4-2-3-1 system suddenly had lined up in a 4-3-3 one for their World Cup opener.

The unease was evident from their play early on as Tottenham winger Nacer Chadli was tucked into the centre of the midfield. Belgium seemed disjointed and a shambles in midfield, where they failed to dictate any sort of terms. The first half was a disaster for the Red Devils until Sofiane Feghouli scored for Algeria in the 25th minute from the spot, at which point it was a super disaster.

The trio of Saphir Taïder, Carl Medjani and Nabil Bentaleb came to the fore for the Africans, winning the battles in the centre of the field where Begium truly lacked creativity. This reduced Romelu Lukaku to a disjointed and frustrated figure up top with nothing much to feed on.

The interval saw Chadli withdrawn in favour of Dries Mertes, with De Bruyne shifting inside. Even then, things didn’t get rosier for the group favourites as their two prime threats, Eden Hazard and Mertens/De Bruyne on either wing were stifled by the impressive duo of Faouzi Ghoulam and Riyad Mahrez on the left and, Mehdi Mostefa and Sofiane Feghouli on the right.

With three shots on goal in the entire match, Algeria’s main focus was evidently to keep their lead from the precious penalty. However, such heavy work-rates without the ball made them vulnerable as the match towards the end. With increasing tiredness in the ranks of the Fennec Foxes, Belgium started enjoying success especially through Mertens. Further impetus was thrown into the wingplay when the 19-year-old Divock Origi was thrown in to the game alongwith Marouane Fellaini to add fresh legs and height into the attack as Belgium switched to a 4-4-2.

Five minutes later, Belgium was back in the game. Fellaini planted his header into the crossbar; but saw his effort ricochet off the bar and into the net for the vital equalizer.

The winner ten minutes later came uncharacteristically from a Belgium counter as Algeria began to chase the match and in the process leave space behind. De Bruyne did brilliantly to find Hazard after dispossessing Feghouli. The Chelsea man tore up the pitch to lead a three on two counter. Hazard showed his true class as he made Algeria pay for their only mistake of the game. His decisive ball found Mertens who blasted it past Raïs M'Bohli at his near post.

Brazil can’t get past the “Ochoa wall”

Tournament hosts and one of the favourites, Brazil meanwhile had to be contented with a scoreless draw against Mexico. The two Latin American played with flair and pace in a game that produce opportunities a plenty, but neither could find the back of the net.

The performance (though not the result) from the tournament hosts was certainly an improvement from their win over Croatia but it certainly gave many the feeling that this Brazil side still lacks the fire-power to take on all comers in the tournament.

Both teams looked like taking the initiative to open the account first. While Brazil dominated the early proceedings, Julio Cesar was soon called into action to save a 25 yard thunderbolt from Hector Herrera.

The moment of the game which is usually preserved for the sublime skills of the attacking players, however was produced by Mexico goalkeeper Guilermo Ochoa. As Neymar looked certain to score from his flick header from a Dani Alves, Ochoa produced a mercurial save as he leapt to his right to claw the ball off the line and away with his right hand fully extended

Ochoa was the saviour again for Mexico a few minutes late when he timely rushed out to block David Luiz’s effort.

The two-way traffic continued even after the interval as Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta brought out the best from Julio Cesar.

Ochoa on the night of his life was the man on the spot again twice in the second-half as well, first to deny Neymar (again) and then to save Thiago Silva’s header from a corner. The chance of the second however came to Bernard. The Brazilian substitute however failed to keep his cool, rushing on his effort to only drag it wide.

Story of two errors

akinfeev — Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev fails to save the 0-1 goal during the Group H football match between Russia and South Korea in the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

A stoic match was brought to a pulsating end courtesy of two goal-keeping errors in the game between Russia and South Korea.

South Korea took a game that was touted by many as Russia’s to lose by the scruff of the neck in the early goings. The Koreans were their industrious selves in the game as they again exhibitioned their quick movement and technical ability, although with very little cutting edge in the final third.

The Russians came back into the game at the half-hour mark with Sergei Ignashevich producing their first real effort on goal from a free-kick, 35 yards out. Russia however can count their lucky stars when Koo Ja-Cheol’s deflected shot three minutes later, rolled inches wide of the post with Igor Akinfeev left frozen by the ricochet.

Son Heung-Min also had a chance to open the accounts for South Korea late in the first half. But his effort lacked any sort of conviction, as he his shot saile high and handsome over the corssbar.

The game however didn’t come to life till the 68th when Lee Keun-Ho’s pedestrian strike from outside the box was totally mishandled by Akinfeev. The veteran keeper was left dumb-founded as the ball leapt over his head after hitting his hand and into the net to give South Korea the lead.

However, six minutes later Akinfeev breathed a huge sigh of relief as his opposite number did him a huge favour. Jung Sung-ryong saved the initial effort from Denis Glushakov but failed to deal with it completely as the ball rebounded kindly to Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Kerzhakov’s attempt at the shot however was scuffed and wnt on to hit Andrey Eshchenko on the chest. The deflection however fell kindly to the feet of Kerzhakov, who made his second effort count to bring the Russians level.

Edited by Staff Editor