Clubless Ochoa's 'incredible' saves boost his job prospects

MEXICO'S Guillermo Ochoa produced one of the great World Cup goalkeeping performances on Tuesday, denting hosts Brazil's confidence and boosting his own job chances.

The 28-year-old, who has no club, hurled himself across the goal to parry away a Neymar shot and kept out a point-blank header by Brazil captain Thiago Silva in an astounding game.

While the player nicknamed "Memo" took a lap of honour in the Foraleza stadium, admirers were likening his agility to Gordon Banks's miracle save for England in 1970 when he stopped a header by Brazil's legend Pele.

Ochoa said it was the best match of his life.

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari may give one of the top job references after the goalless draw slowed his side's advance on the second round of the World Cup.

"We had our chances but the goalkeeper played superbly," Scolari said. "He is a very good goalkeeper who had a very good day, and it is because of that we didn't win. He was spectacular, very calm and confident."

Ochoa is without a regular job as his two-year contract with French league side Ajaccio has ended. The team were relegated to the second division this season.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said Ochoa had not been an automatic choice as No1 goalkeeper. But he called the performance incredible.

Ochoa's job with Ajaccio could have been in doubt after he was implicated in a doping scandal with four Mexico teammates in 2011 just after his move to France. All tested positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol.

Ochoa protested his innocence but it left him in limbo for a year. He was thrown out of the Gold Cup in June that year while waiting for the Mexican federation to decide his fate. He was cleared.

Clubs of the stature of Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United dropped their interest in him.

Ochoa, who is in his third World Cup finals but only played his first game against Cameroon last week, stayed loyal to Ajaccio after the federation found that the players had eaten meat contaminated with the steroid. "It was the only club which held its hand out to me during the doping affair." – AFP