World Cup roundup: RUS-KOR, BRA-MEX, BEL-ALG (June 17)

Marcello of Brazil vies with Oribe Peralta of Mexico during the World Cup pn Tuesday, June 17, 2014, in Fortaleza, Brazil. (Imago/Zuma Press/MCT)
Marcello of Brazil vies with Oribe Peralta of Mexico during the World Cup pn Tuesday, June 17, 2014, in Fortaleza, Brazil. (Imago/Zuma Press/MCT)

Group H: Russia 1, South Korea 1

CUIABA, Brazil — Blundering Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was bailed out by teammate Alexander Kerzhakov in a 1-1 draw with South Korea in the World Cup that exposed both teams' deficiencies.

Akinfeev had already looked suspect in dealing with long-range shots before spilling Lee Keun-ho's speculative effort into his own net in the 68th minute, gifting South Korea the lead at the Arena Pantanal.

Kerzhakov, though, came to Akinfeev's rescue by turning in a shot from close range six minutes later — just three minutes after coming on as a substitute — to earn Russia a point from a poor-quality Group H match.

Russia coach Fabio Capello has remained loyal to Akinfeev this season despite some patchy form, and stood by him again.

"He is a great goalkeeper," Capello said. "There can be mistakes, of course — some can get a penalty wrong ... and it's logical for a goalkeeper to make a mistake as well.

"We were able to make up for that and we can accept a mistake by a great keeper like Akinfeev."

A point leaves both teams behind Belgium, but the group appears wide open based on the opening two fixtures.

Having lost four of its last five games heading to Brazil, the South Koreans came into their eighth straight World Cup with concerns over their flimsy defense and a lack of goal threat. A 4-0 thrashing by Ghana in a warm-up in Miami last week highlighted those worrying deficiencies perfectly.

There was no hiding their toothless attack here, either, with the experienced Park Chu-young starting as the lone striker but justifying fears that he has lost his way after three ineffective years with Arsenal in the English Premier League. He was substituted in the 56th and his replacement, Lee, scored South Korea's goal.

"In such a tournament, the first match is the most difficult," South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo, who captained the nation to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, said through a translator. "There is a lot of pressure on it, so I thought the players played very well."

However, South Korea couldn't hold on and when Dzagoev's cross-shot was spilled out by goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong and defender Hwang Seok-ho's clearance went straight at Andrei Yeshchenko, Kerzhakov was on hand to bundle home from inside the six-yard box.


Marcello of Brazil vies with Oribe Peralta of Mexico during the World Cup on June 17 in Fortaleza, Brazil. MCT PHOTO

Group A: Brazil 0, Mexico 0

FORTALEZA, Brazil — Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a series of outstanding saves to help Mexico hold Brazil to a thrilling 0-0 draw at the World Cup.

The result leaves 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.

"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, it's incredible."

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera called Ochoa the "hero" of the match.

"He did what we expected him to do, he came up with extraordinary saves," Herrera said.

After stopping Silva's header, there was still time for a thrilling end to the game in the northeastern city of Fortaleza.

The referee dismissed Brazilian claims for a penalty after Marcelo seemed to have been grabbed in the 88th minute. Mexico then had two great chances, first with Andres Guardado's shot over the crossbar in the 90th and then with an effort by Raul Jimenez that was stopped by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar in injury time.

"In the end, the 0-0 mirrors what happened, it was a very hard-fought match," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "The draw wasn't 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 clearly pleased with his side's performance.

"We had a great match against a great rival playing in front of its fans, in its stadium, in its country," Herrera said. "We showed that we can play at the same level as any other team."

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.

Brazil had won all three previous World Cup matches between the teams without conceding a goal, but the Latin American rivals hadn't met in the sport's showcase tournament since 1962.

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 year's Confederations Cup, also in Fortaleza and also in the second match of the group stage.


Group H: Belgium 2, Algeria 1

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — Waiting and waiting for an equalizer, the tension started showing on the faces of the Belgium players as the second half wore on in the country's first World Cup match in 12 years.

Algeria was on the verge of a major upset in their Group H opener Tuesday, taking the lead through a penalty in the 25th minute. Try as they might, Belgium's attacking players just couldn't break down Algeria's defense.

In the end, it was the Belgian bench which found the way, with substitutes scoring twice for a 2-1 comeback win.

"We tired them. We just tired them down," Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said. "I told them, 'Don't worry, we will score.'"

Algeria's surprising lead stood for 45 minutes until Marouane Fellaini's strong glancing header, with his back to goal, from a Kevin De Bruyne cross in the 70th.

Fellaini, who many had considered would start the match, had only come onto the pitch five minutes earlier and was Wilmots' final substitution.

Dries Mertens' right-foot strike beat Algeria's goalkeeper in the 80th after Eden Hazard saw him free on the right and set him up for the decider. Mertens, who went on at the start of the second half, sent his shot high in the net outside of Rais Mbolhi's reach.

"We knew it would be tough, that there would be no space," Wilmots said. "We made one error and we paid for it. The bench made the difference. We showed mental strength and we came back."

The error was an obvious one. Belgium left back Jan Vertonghen dragged down Sofiane Feghouli in the area, and the Algerian attacking midfielder got up and converted the resulting penalty.

At that point, Algeria was on course to produce another upset of a major team as it did in 1982 when it beat West Germany in its first group match.

"We played a very good game against one of the favorites," Feghouli said. "We have to build on this."

The Algerians started brightly but faded toward the end against Belgium's unrelenting attack.

"We saw their strength come through. They showed that Belgium has great players," captain Madjid Bougherra said. "We lacked freshness and energy. The heat cost us."

Belgium, widely billed as the favorite in Group H, next plays Russia, while Algeria meets South Korea on June 22.

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