Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa desires extra in his fifth World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — With a post-game hug, Robert Lewandowski paid respect the place it was due. Guillermo Ochoa had finished it once more on the World Cup. Mexico’s stalwart goalkeeper stopped Lewandowski, one of many sport’s finest strikers, on a second-half penalty kick that preserved a scoreless draw between El Tri and Poland.A loss within the match would have dealt a blow to Mexico’s bid for an eighth straight journey to the World Cup’s knockout rounds. Ochoa, 37, is making his fifth consecutive look in soccer’s largest event, becoming a member of an unique membership that features Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However it wasn’t the primary time the seemingly ageless goalkeeper with unruly hair had come up huge within the World Cup. Again in 2014, the participant broadly identified by his nickname Memo, made six saves within the scoreless draw with Brazil, which was among the many favorites because the event’s host. He denied Brazilian stars Neymar and Thiago Silva on close-in headers and afterward known as it the “sport of a lifetime.”In Russia 4 years in the past, he had 9 saves in Mexico’s 1-0 victory over defending champion Germany within the group opener. “Once we want Memo, he all the time exhibits up,” defender Jorge Sanchez stated. Qatar might be Ochoa’s last World Cup and he desperately desires to advance previous the spherical of 16 and play in an elusive “quinto partido” — a fifth sport. It’s one thing that has eluded El Tri since Mexico hosted the 1986 event.“There have been nice gamers in historical past who by no means had an opportunity to play at a World Cup, so for me to have the possibility to play 5 is fantastic, superb,” Ochoa stated. “However, in fact, I would like this World Cup to be very completely different and to be the very best of all time for Mexico.” Inside moments after Tuesday’s draw, memes unfold on social media depicting Ochoa as a brick wall, Superman, Neo within the Matrix motion pictures and even Jesus. However Ochoa, who performs for Membership América in Mexico’s Liga MX, pointed afterward to preparation, not heroics. “We work on that these two weeks, or possibly a month, with goalkeeper coach Gustavo Pinero. However it’s all the time tough whenever you watch the video of Lewandowski’s penalties, it’s sophisticated since you watch greater than 15 to twenty penalties, so that you by no means know which aspect to decide on,” Ochoa stated. “On the finish I’m joyful to save lots of the penalty. He’s a fantastic striker.” Ochoa began his profession with Membership América at 18 and performed there for seven years earlier than bouncing round Europe with groups in France, Spain and Belgium. He wound up again with Membership América in 2019. Whereas the opener led to a draw, the save helped — not less than momentarily — to quiet the critics who’ve questioned the group’s kind and blasted coach Gerardo Martino for his roster selections. Mexico completed second in CONCACAF qualifying behind Canada — and forward of america. However the group dropped three of its 5 tune-up matches heading into he World Cup. On Saturday at Lusail Stadium El Tri faces Messi and Argentina, who unexpectedly fell 2-1 to Saudi Arabia of their opener. La Albiceleste stay one of many favorites on the event regardless of the loss. “We have now a tricky opponent within the subsequent sport, however Mexico can be a tricky opponent,” Ochoa stated. “We’ve labored actually onerous. We’ve ready ourselves.” ___