Hosts and World Cup favourites Brazil on Tuesday left to wait for their knock-out round qualification with a stubborn Mexico holding them to a goal-less draw while dark horses Belgium bounced back from a goal down to beat Algeria 2-1 on the sixth 
Brazil would have booked a round of 16 berth had they beaten Mexico but little known goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa produced at least two stunning saves in a heroic display to deny the Selecao a win in a high-voltage Group A clash.
The 28-year-old Ochoa, who plays in France for AC Ajaccio, first thwarted Neymar’s 26th minute header with a spectacular dive to his right and then blocked Thiago Silva’s headed attempt in the 87th minute to the huge groan of the sea of yellow-clad Selecao fans.
Superstar Neymar, who scored two goals in Brazil’s 3-1 opening match win against Croatia, had plenty of the ball and made some threatening runs into the rival box under hot and humid conditions at Estadio Castelao.
But ultimately, the five-time champions failed to break down the stubborn Mexican defence and the seemingly impenetrable wall thrown around their goal by Ochoa. Mexico survived the grinding offence from Brazil and frustrated the hosts’ march to the second round.
After today’s draw, Brazil and Mexico occupy to top spot in Group A on four points each. The group, which also has Croatia and Cameroon as other teams, is now wide open.
BELGIUM BEAT ALGERIA 2-1 IN A STUNNING COMEBACK
In a Group H match in Belo Horizonte, Belgium made a stunning rally to beat Algeria 2-1 with two second half goals.
Widely billed dark horse to lift the trophy, Belgium had to toil hard to erase the 0-1 deficit after Algeria had taken a surprise lead in the 25th minute against the run of play through a penalty kick conversion by Sofiane Feghouli.
Belgium, whose most of players ply trade in top European clubs, turned the match on its head with two goals in the space of 10 minutes.
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini equalised in the 70th minute through a glancing header before substitute Dries Mertens made a fierce finish with a low shot for the winning goal in the 80th minute.
RUSSIA AND SOUTH KOREA PLAY OUT A 1-1 DRAW
South Korea then held Russia 1-1 in another drawn match in the same group under hot and humid conditions at Cuiaba.
Alexander Kerzhakov rescued Russia in their first World Cup finals match since 2002, scoring three minutes after coming on as substitute.
The Zenit St Petersburg striker was brought on after rival substitute Lee Keun-Ho put South Korea ahead with a 30 metre shot that Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev disastrously parried over his head into the net.
The result left both countries — with one point each — trailing Belgium who head the Group H table with three points.
Russia, who host the 2018 finals, were looking to make an impact in their landmark return.
They owed their saved honour to Kerzhakov who scored his 26th international goal.