FORTALEZA, Brazil -- He was called a hero and a saviour by his Mexican teammates. Asics Gel Nimbus 17 Uomo . 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). Asics Gel Kayano 20 Uomo . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break. Asics Tiger Aaron - Uomo/Donna - Blu Reale/Bianche H51XJ-5001 . - PGA Tour rookie Tony Finau shot a 9-under 63 at Del Monte and had a two-stroke lead over Billy Andrade and Lee Janzen of the Champions Tour after Thursdays opening round of the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational.CALGARY -- The Canadian womens hockey team will see palm trees and beaches and feel tropical temperatures when they arrive in Sochi, Russia, next week. This isnt a vacation, however, as they intend to skate hard in the Black Sea resort city that will host the Winter Olympics next February. The Canadian women depart Sunday on a trip designed to be a physical and mental orientation to the Games environment. Theyre scheduled to play the Russian womens team Sept. 8 and Sept. 10 at the secondary rink Shayba -- the venue for the preliminary-round games of the Olympic womens tournament -- before returning Sept. 11. The Canadians will practise and dryland train, as well as tour the athletes village and the city where they intend to defend the gold medal. "I look at it as a test event for us," captain Hayley Wickenheiser said. "Were playing two games against Russia. Competition is important, but its secondary to figuring out what the venues are like and where you are in proximity and what kind of food you need to eat. "Weve got a young group that hasnt done a lot of international travel, so its about adjusting to time change and being expected to perform. I tell the girls were doing Rocky in Russia." There wont be snow to pull a sled through as Sylvester Stallone did in "Rocky IV". Sochi is on the same latitude as southern France and in a zone that supports palm trees. The forecasted high next week is 30 degrees. Head coach Dan Church wants to see his 27 Olympic hopefuls persevere and perform through the fog of severe jet lag. Theyve been training full-time in Calgary since Aug. 6 and their bodies are still adjusting to a heavy workload. "We have to be good at playing a little tired," Church said. "We have to train through this period. The result of the games is secondary to what we need to do to prepare for the overall picture. "First and foremost its to be in the environment. Secondly, we want to continue to develop our players and the team, push some of the systems play we want to implement and finish off this five-week training block with some really good games." He has built one "beach day" into their schedule and some time to explore Sochi. "A lot of people dont realize you can train as hard as you want, but if you dont rest hard, the training isnt as effective," Church said. The majority of the players and Church will experience Russia for the first time. Wickenheiser travelled to the country once when she played mens pro hockey in Finland. But the veteran of five Olympic Games is anxious to see what Sochi has in store for her and her teammates. "Im just curious about the venue,"t; Wickenheiser said. Asics Gel Running Donna. "The only thing that matters to me is the rink. I could sleep in a cardboard box." The 35-year-old from Shaunavon, Sask., has added her voice to widespread criticism of anti-gay laws Russia passed in June. The legislation bans promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relations, which makes Pride events illegal and muzzles gay organizations. A debate is underway on how gay athletes, or athletes who have gay family members or friends at the Games, will be treated in Sochi. International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge says hes received written assurances from the Russian government that everyone will be welcome in Sochi "regardless of sexual orientation" but it is unclear what would happen to athletes or fans if they engaged in behaviour deemed illegal under Russian law. Wickenheiser says she wont censor herself if shes asked about the controversy while in Russia. "I feel this is the way most athletes and most people in the free world think about it," she said. "I do think what theyre doing is discriminating against human rights. I just think its the 21st century. Its 2014. We have to not let those things happen." The Canadian Olympic Committee has trumpeted its support of Canadian athletes participating in Pride events across the country throughout this summer. Speedskaters Denny Morrison, Anastasia Bucsis and Shannon Rempel, as well as luger Sam Edney will walk in Calgarys Pride Parade on Sunday, the COC said Friday in a release. The Russian womens hockey team won the bronze medal at Aprils world hockey championship in Ottawa. It was the countrys first medal since taking bronze in 2001. After years of neglect, the Russian Hockey Federation is investing in female hockey because the host country wants a medal to add to its total in Sochi. Former NHL player Alexei Yashin is the teams general manager. "They have dramatically improved their game," Wickenheiser said. "In talking to some of the players . . . they really like Alexei Yashin and they really feels hes cares about them and is invested in them as hockey players. "I think for the first time ever, they have a spark of hope. They want to train hard. I know some of the training theyve been doing. Its the old Russian Red Army way." Russias support of womens hockey has come too late to challenge Canada and the U.S. for gold in Sochi, but Wickenheiser feels the country is capable of becoming a legitimate rival for the North Americans. "If they did invest in their program over the next five or six years, of any country they could do it," she said. "They have the talent." ' ' '