World Cup Group D - Mexico Fails to Beat Joao Ricardo (Mexico 0 - Angola 0)

I kinda fell asleep during the first half while watching the game with one eye opened in the first half. It's been a tiring day, after catching the Argentina game earlier at Biopolis with Cow and Matt. Then coming home to change a new set of clothes, type my report on the game and then off to Queens to catch the Holland game with Cow. Thank god he rented a car.

Anyway from what I saw with that one eye, the Mexicans were off the blocks pretty early in the game but failed to score. The Angolans then crept back into the game after the opening few minutes of pressure.

However in the second half (watched with both eyes opened), Mexico threatened and had numerous chances foiled by the brilliant performance of Joao Ricardo, the Angolan keeper. He stopped Franco's chip and Bravo's one on one chance. And when he did slip, literally, Bravo could only force the ball against the post. This has been the best performance by a keeper in this tournament so far.

Angola, on the other hand, threatened when they moved forward but failed to produce anything noteworthy. After Macanga was sent off at around the 80th minute for Angola for a stupid handball, the Mexicans poured forward looking for the elusive goal to see them thru to the next round. It was wave after wave of Mexican attack, but the organised Angolan defence and Ricardo held firm, repeling the Mexican wave. For their efforts, the Angolans managed a scoreless draw to keep their hopes alive.

Just a little bit of trivial, this is the second match officiated by Singaporean referee, Shamsul Maidin.