MAROUANE FELLAINI and Dries Mertens spared ‘dark horses’ Belgiums’ blushes in a 2-1 World Cup Group H win over Algeria. Belgium survived an almighty scare by coming up from a goal down with 20 minutes remaining to beat Algeria 2-1 in Belo Horizonte. Algeria took a shock lead after Jan Vertonghen pulled back Sofiane Feghouli in the box, the striker getting off the deck to convert from the spot. With Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli and Romelu Lukaku proving wholly ineffective in creating chances, Marc Wilmots was forced to ring the changes, bringing on Marouanne Fellaini, Dries Mertens and Divock Origi. And the move paid off almost immediately, Fellaini rising to nod home Kevin De Brunye’s accurate cross past the resolute Rais Mbolhi. Belgium pressed for victory and almost inevitably, Eden Hazard was the catalyst. His excellent pass across the face of goal was met by sub Mertens who drilled home. Fellaini could have had a second late on but Mbolhi denied him with another fine save. Russia and South Korea are the other two sides in Group H, where whoever comes second looks certain to face Germany in the last-16. Hosts Brazil are held by Mexico Hosts and World Cup favourites Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by Mexico on Tuesday in an absorbing Group A match in the deafening cauldron of Fortalezas Castelao arena. Brazil failed time and again to break down a stubborn defence backed up by inspired goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa but the Mexicans also created several decent chances in another entertaining game. Paulinho, Neymar and Thiago Silva all came close to finding the back of the net but were thwarted by Ochoa. Thiago Silva almost stole the match in the dying minutes but the Mexican keeper parried away his point-blank header. The draw brought to an end Brazils 10-match winning streak, dating back to August. It also meant that to make the second round of the tournament both teams need points from their final group games on June 23 when Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia and Mexico meet Croatia in Recife. Brazil bossed the match from the outset with Marcelo and Oscar causing mischief down the left and Neymar showing the occasional burst of brilliance in the middle. Neymars header from a Dani Alves free kick on 26 minutes forced the first fine save from Ochoa, who beat the ball away at his right hand post as it headed goalwards. Brazils best chance of the half came just before the break. Oscar floated a free kick into the box, Thiago Silva chested it down into the path of Paulinho, who just failed to scoop the ball over the keeper from close range. At the other end, Mexico were restricted to long-range efforts from Miguel Layun, Jose Vasquez and Hector Herrera, none of which seriously troubled Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal. This was the first time that Mexico had held Brazil to a draw at a World Cup. Their previous three clashes ended in comprehensive victories for the Brazilians, 5-0, 4-0 and 2-0.
