South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng applauds after his team's match against Russia during the World Cup on Tuesday, June 17, in Cuiaba, Brazil. The game ended 1-1.
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(CNN) -- Brazil's World Cup has been a carnival of color -- but this was a monochrome affair in Fortaleza.
A dour goalless draw against Mexico is unlikely to prevent the host nation from qualifying for the next stage but this game will soon be forgotten.
Even with Neymar at the helm, the face of Brazil's World Cup challenge, it rarely looked like finding a way past a determined and stubborn Mexican side.
And when Brazil did managed to create a chance, it found Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in irrepressible form.
"There was a chance here, a chance there, it was very tight," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told reporters.
"It wasn't a question of us evolving or not (from the last game). We've been playing this way for 20 games, we are up against good teams, we need to understand that.
"It wasn't a good result, a victory would have qualified us. We need to respect other teams."
After the thrilling excitement of the last week's 3-1 win over Croatia, those packed into the stadium in Fortaleza may have expected another action-packed affair.
Instead, what transpired was a rather turgid affair as Brazil failed to find the fluency which eventually put Croatia to the sword in Sao Paulo.
Mexico, winners in its opening game against Cameroon, showed little sign of being overawed by the occasion and came close to opening the scoring when Hector Herrera's effort was tipped away by Julio Cesar.
It wasn't until midway through the first half that Brazil fashioned a real opportunity -- but when it came it needed a wonderful save by Ochoa to keep Mexico level.
Dani Alves, sporting his freshly sprayed silver hairstyle, escaped down the right and his cross was headed towards goal by Neymar only for Ochoa to scramble across goal and tip the ball away.
With the first half drawing to a close, Brazil once again carved open the Mexican defense.
A free kick into the penalty area was chested down by Thiago Silva into the path of David Luiz but his effort was blocked by the onrushing Ochoa.
Whatever coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said at the interval appeared to galvanize the host nation for a few minutes at least with substitute Bernard, on in place of Ramires, adding a new found impetus.
It was Bernard who created the opening chance of the half, crossing for Neymar at the far post only for the ball to be taken off the forward's toes by a Mexican defender.
But any hopes that Brazil would begin to grow into the contest appeared unfounded.
Instead, it was Mexico which looked the more threatening of the two teams with Oribe Peralta and Giovani Dos Santos both roaming menacingly towards the Brazilian goal.
But while Neymar remained on the field, Brazil still possessed a man capable of producing magic.
It was the 22-year-old who was denied by Ochoa once again, this time the Mexican blocking Neymar's fierce drive from inside the penalty area.
Brazil, having replaced the anonymous Fred with substitute Jo, began to crank up the pressure with Mexico visibly beginning to tire.
Unbeaten in its previous 38 matches on home soil, Brazil rarely looked like losing but nor did it appear able to find that elusive goal.
That frustration was increased with five minutes remaining when Thiago Silva's powerful header was blocked on the line by Ochoa with the Brazilian captain looking certain to score.
Marcelo, the left-back, then embarrassed himself by attempting to gain a late penalty with a dive which won him few admirers.
Raul Jimenez went close at the other end, forcing Cesar into a smart save as both side's failed to find a breakthrough.
Brazil's next game takes place on June 23rd against Cameroon while Mexico will take on Croatia.
Read: Belgium battles back to beat Algeria
Read: Top 10 World Cup matches
South Korean defender Hwang Seok-Ho, right, approaches a teammate at the end of the game.
Russian forward Alexander Kerzhakov, center, reacts after scoring to tie the game.
South Korean forward Lee Keun-Ho, left, celebrates with midfielder and captain Lee Chung-Yong after scoring the first goal of the game late in the second half.
Lee celebrates after scoring.
Igor Akinfeev of Russia lies in the net after failing to stop Lee from scoring.
South Korean midfielder Han Kook-Young, right, vies for the ball.
South Korean midfielder Son Heung-Min tries to get control of the ball.
Russian forward Alexander Samedov, left, and South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng fall during the game.
South Korean defender Hong Jeong-Ho heads the ball.
Russian forward Alexander Kokorin, left, vies with South Korean defender Kim Young-Gwon.
Kokorin, left, and Kim.
South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, second from right, vies with Kokorin, second from left.
South Korean forward Koo Ja-Cheol, bottom, vies with Russian midfielder Denis Glushakov.
Fans look on from the stands before the match between Russia and South Korea.
South Korea fans show their support.
Russia fans at the match against South Korea.
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, right, makes a save near Brazilian players David Luiz and Paulinho during a World Cup match in Fortaleza, Brazil. The match ended 0-0 in large part to Ochoa, who made several key saves.
Mexican midfielder Jose Juan Vazquez, left, competes for the ball with Brazil's Oscar.
Ochoa makes a save after a header by Brazil's Thiago Silva, right.
Mexican forwards Giovani Dos Santos, left, and Oribe Peralta try to win the ball with Thiago Silva in between them.
Ochoa makes another save. Both Brazil and Mexico now have a win and a draw through two games played at this World Cup.
Dani Alves of Brazil, front, and Vazquez battle for the ball.
Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar watches the ball fly over him.
Brazilian forward Fred, left, vies for the ball with Mexican defender Francisco Rodriguez.
Fred focuses on the ball.
Dani Alves, left, controls the ball next to Andres Guardado of Mexico.
Neymar of Brazil looks to find a way through the Mexican defense.
Ramires of Brazil falls after a challenge by Guardado, left, and Vazquez.
Paulinho, left, battles for the ball with Guardado.
Oscar tackles Miguel Layun of Mexico.
Oscar challenges Peralta.
Mexico fans cheer in Fortaleza.
Brazil fans cheer prior to the match.
Belgium's Dries Mertens celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Algeria during a match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Belgium won 2-1 after trailing 1-0 at halftime.
Mertens was a second-half substitute, coming on for Nacer Chadli at halftime.
Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini high-fives his coach, Marc Wilmots, after scoring his team's first goal with a header.
El Arabi Soudani of Algeria dribbles past Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.
Algeria's Madjid Bougherra reaches for the ball.
Moussa Dembele of Belgium goes down next to Carl Medjani of Algeria.
Algerian players celebrate after Sofiane Feghouli, second from left, scored on a penalty kick to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Feghouli runs to the corner of the field after his penalty kick beat Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
A behind-the-goal angle of Feghouli's first-half score. The penalty kick was awarded after Feghouli was fouled in the box by Belgian left back Jan Vertonghen.
Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld, left, vies for the ball against Algeria's Riyad Mahrez.
Soudani, left, goes for a header against Belgium's Axel Witsel.
Lukaku and Faouzi Ghoulam of Algeria compete for a header.
An Algeria fan is pictured prior to the match.
A Belgium fan and a man dressed as the Incredible Hulk pose for a photo before the match. 
