The Timberwolves played their third game in four nights | Forum
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Jan 14 '18
FORTALEZA, Brazil -- He was called a hero and a saviour by his Mexican teammates. Elias Lindholm Jersey . 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). James Wisniewski Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . On the day after Billy Horschel posted his 12th straight round in the 60s, won his second straight tournament against a world-class field and picked up an additional $10 million bonus as the FedEx Cup champion, Watson was kicking back in his seat at a Kansas City Royals game.BOSTON -- Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens suggested to forward Jared Sullinger that he might want to keep an eye on Kevin Love and try to learn whatever he could from the Timberwolves big man. For one quarter on Monday night, Sullinger schooled the Minnesota all-star. Sullinger had 15 points and six rebounds in the fourth, hitting a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 2:22 left and the Celtics held on to beat the Timberwolves 101-97. Sullinger, a second-year player who missed half of last season, had 24 points and 11 rebounds in all while adding a career-high five assists. "He did take it up a notch at the end," Stevens said of Sullinger, who made one 3-pointer all last season but pulled himself above 30 per cent from the arc this season. "Hes a scorer. Hes always been a scorer. Hes been a scorer as long as Ive known him. It never surprises me when scorers make plays." Avery Bradley scored 19 points for the Celtics, who won for the fifth time in seven games to hold onto first place in the Atlantic Division despite a 12-14 record that would be 12th-best in the Western Conference. Love had 27 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which has not won in Boston since 2005. But he was 2 for 11 from 3-point range as the Timberwolves, who hit a season-high 12 3-pointers at Memphis on Sunday, went 8 of 29 from beyond the arc. "I shot the ball good, it just didnt go in," Love said. "It was that way for all of our team. ... We shot the ball pretty bad the whole game. We beat that team the majority of the time we play them." Love hit a 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 92-90 lead with 3:48 to play, then Jordan Crawford tied it from the right baseline. Sullinger missed a baby hook putback for Boston, but Alexey Shved missed a 3-pointer and Sullinger then hit his 3 from the top of the key to give Boston the lead for good. "We made the right plays and I happened to be the beneficiary," Sulllinger said. Victor Rask Jersey. "I was just wide open. I passed up a lot of shots in the third quarter when I was wide open." Stevens said hed like to see Sullinger do that more. "Kevin is considered an elite NBA player, and Jared is a rising NBA player. You look up to those guys, you study them and you figure out what they do to make themselves elite," Stevens said. "If theres a person in basketball that you can identify with, those are good guys to learn from." Boston led 95-94 when Sullinger grabbed the rebound of J.J. Bareas miss and made free throws with 18 seconds left to make it a three-point game. Nikola Pekovic missed a dunk, then Sullinger grabbed another rebound and made one of two free throws with 14 seconds left to help ice it. After Love missed a 3, Sullinger grabbed another rebound. Bradley had 10 points in the first quarter to help the Celtics open an eight-point lead. Love had six points and five rebounds for Minnesota after one, but it was Luc Mbah a Moute who led the Timberwolves in the second quarter, scoring seven points with four rebounds to help them open a one-point lead before Sullingers free throws just before the half gave Boston a 51-50 edge. Pekovic scored the first seven points of the second half -- all but a free throw in the lane -- to help the Wolves take a 57-51 lead. But Boston went on a 17-4 run to turn the six-point deficit into a seven-point lead. NOTES: Berea had 10 points and 11 assists for Minnesota. ... Minnesota F Dante Cunningham needed to be helped from the court after he was fouled by Sullinger with just under 4 minutes remaining in the game. ... Minnesota beat Boston 106-88 in their only other meeting this season, on Nov. 16. ... The Timberwolves played their third game in four nights. ... First-round Boston draft pick Kelly Olynyk had nine points in 14 minutes in his second game back after missing 10 with a sprained right ankle. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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