Watch: Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa robs Neymar with tremendous diving save

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa turned in the best goalkeeping display of the World Cup in the first half against Brazil on Tuesday. He made several

Liviu Bird|

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa turned in the best goalkeeping display of the World Cup in the first half against Brazil on Tuesday. He made several important saves, most notably on a Neymar header that looked destined for the side netting.

In the 26th minute of the scoreless opening half, Dani Alves bent in a cross from the right flank that evaded Mexico’s defenders but was right in Neymar’s path. He leapt and connected well, sending the ball to Ochoa’s right.

Ochoa, extended as far as possible to his right and also diving slightly backward, got a hand on the ball and kept it out before crashing into the post (albeit harmlessly). FIFA’s replay utilizing goal-line technology showed that the ball was directly above the goal line when Ochoa intervened at the last possible moment.

Watch the save here:

Published Jun 17, 2014 | Modified Jun 17, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).

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