Here is a recap of Day Six at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
BELGIUM 2 ALGERIA 1
Algeria gave Belgium a run for their money, but in the end, the class of the Red Devils was just too great as the Belgians defeated the African side 2-1 in their Group H opener. The Desert Foxes took the lead when Sofiane Feghouli slotted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois just moments after being dragged down in the box by Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen. The Algerians bunkered down after taking the early lead, but in the 65th minute a header by Marouane Fellaini allowed the Belgians to equalize. The Red Devills took the lead once and for all in the 80th minute when a well-timed counter attack culminated in Eden Hazard’s cross to Dries Mertens for the game-winner.
MEXICO 0 BRAZIL 0
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made six saves as El Tri earned a scoreless draw with tournament hosts Brazil. Ochoa’s dazzling stops stonewalled a Brazilian side that dominated possession and scoring chances throughout the deadlock. The most spectacular of the Mexican ‘keeper’s six saves came in the 26th minute when a Neymar header appeared destined for the bottom corner of the goal only to be parried away at the last second by the outstretched palm of Ochoa. Mexico’s draw was the first point gained by a non-European or South American side against Brazil in World Cup history.
KOREA REPUBLIC 1 RUSSIA 1
Unlucky defending and horrendous goalkeeping proved decisive as Russia and Korea Republic battled to a 1-1 draw in the two nations' Group H opener. South Korea drew first blood in the 68th minute when Lee Keun-Ho launched a seemingly harmless shot from distance right at Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, but his two-handed parry backfired when the ball bounced over his head and into the back of the net. The Russians let their goalkeeper off the hook in the 74th minute when Aleksandr Kerzhakov smashed in the equalizer off a rebound from Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.
The World Cup returns on Wednesday with three matches. The day begins with Australia taking on Netherlands at 9:00 a.m. PT before Spain looks to get back on track against Chile at 12:00 p.m. PT. The action concludes with Cameroon facing Croatia at 3:00 p.m. PT.
