Angola, reduced to 10 men in the final minutes, caused one of the few surprises at the World Cup when they held Group D leaders Mexico to a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Updated at 2.50 am, Saturday
Red card: Andre Macanga (Angola)
HANOVER: Angola, reduced to 10 men in the final minutes, caused one of the few surprises at the World Cup when they held Group D leaders Mexico to a 0-0 draw on Friday.
Mexico dominated the game but found it hard to break down the hard-working Angolans, playing at their first finals.
Angolan midfielder Andre Macanga was sent off after a deliberate handball in the 79th minute but his team held out despite constant late pressure by the Mexicans.
Mexico lead the group with four points from two games while Angola have one. Portugal, who beat Angola 1-0 in their first match, play Iran in Frankfurt on Saturday.
Both teams still have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup second round from Group D.
Mexico striker Omer Bravo almost broke the deadlock with two minutes left but his close range shot from the right of the area hit the outside of the post.
The Mexicans also hit 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 on to four points, one ahead of Portugal, who play their second game against Iran on Saturday in Frankfurt.
Angola have one point with Iran bottom on none.
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 debutants defended in numbers and looked increasingly confident going forward as the game went on, without creating many clear-cut chances.
Mexico's Omar 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.
Earlier, Angola defender Jamba cleared off the line from substitute Jesus Arellano after Ricardo saved from Mexico striker Guillermo Franco.
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.
Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez bemoaned his team's failure to kill off World Cup debutants Angola despite having most of the possession in their Group D tie on Friday.
“They (Angola) really never had a clear chance at goal,” Sanchez told reporters.
“I think all the clear chances were ours but unfortunately none of them went in.
“We have to keep working so that they go in against Portugal (on Wednesday).”
Sanchez said the Mexicans were upset at failing to secure victory.
“I don't think anyone's happy about it,” he said.
Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe agreed with Sanchez's assessment of the game.
“We controlled the ball but when it doesn't go in, you end up as we did with a draw,” said La Volpe.
“As far as the next game is concerned, we have to wait to see how tomorrow's game finishes between Iran and Portugal before deciding our approach.”
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves disagreed with the view of the opposition camp.
“Angola controlled the match and this draw is a signal that Angola is here at the tournament and building a very good team,” said Goncalves.
“It was a good performance against a strong Mexican team.”
Angola goalkeeper Joao Ricardo was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group.
Teams
Mexico
Oswaldo Sanchez, Mario Mendez, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Salcido, Gonzalo Pineda, Gerardo Torrado, Antonio Naelson, Zinha, Pavel Pardo, Guillermo Franco, Omar Bravo
Coach: Ricardo La Volpe
Angola
Joao Ricardo, Loco, Jamba, Kali, Delgado, Ze Kalanga, Andre Macanga, Figueiredo, Mateus, Mendonca, Akwa
Coach: Luis Oliveira Goncalves
Referee: Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)
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