Angola hold Mexico in drab goalless draw

Angola held Mexico in a dull 0-0 draw yesterday

Angola held Mexico in a dull 0-0 draw yesterday, leaving both teams still in with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup second round from Group D. Mexico striker Omar Bravo almost scored with two minutes left but hit the post. The Mexicans also struck the woodwork in the first half and had an effort cleared off the line.

Angola had to play the last seven minutes without midfielder Andre Macanga, who was sent off for a second bookable offence after unnecessarily handling the ball, but they hung on. The draw takes Mexico to four points, one ahead of Portugal, who play their second group game against Iran today in Frankfurt.

Debutants Angola, who earned their first point at a World Cup, are above Iran who have yet to earn a point.

Deserved draw
"We controlled the ball but when it doesn't go in, you end up as we did with a draw," said Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe. He said they would wait to see Portugal's game with Iran today before deciding how to approach the final match. Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves added: "I think we showed in the end that we deserved this draw. This will be very important for us. We moved the ball around well."

Roared on by a 43 000 crowd dominated by their green and red clad fans, the technically and tactically superior Mexicans had poured forward in the second half, helped by a switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation just after the break. But the African side defended in numbers and looked increasingly confident going forward as the game went on, without creating many clear-cut chances.

Mexico's Bravo had a chance in the 66th minute when he was put clear by a defensive error only to fire straight at keeper Joao Ricardo, who also made a fine flying save from a 25-metre Rafael Marquez strike late on and was named Man of the Match. Earlier, Angola defender Jamba cleared off the line from substitute Jesus Arellano after Ricardo saved from Mexico striker Guillermo Franco.

Deep defending
The Mexicans started well but coach Ricardo La Volpe's five-man backline struggled to get forward fast enough to trouble an African team who defended deep from the start. The first half's best chance fell to Franco, who picked up a loose ball in the box only to hit his shot straight at keeper Joao Ricardo from point blank range.

Mexico's captain and Barcelona centre back Rafael Marquez also smacked a free kick off the post in the 13th minute from just outside the area. Angola again seemed awestruck and their first meaningful attack did not come until the 23rd minute, when Figueiredo fired a powerful right footer from about 20 metres just over the bar.

Lone striker and captain Akwa looked an isolated figure up front against Mexico's three central defenders until a switch in the second half. But he also went close after 32 minutes, heading over from Figueiredo's nicely-curled free kick. - Reuters