Mexico’s El Tri have only managed a 0-0 draw against a 10-man Angolan Palancas Negras team in their Group D match in Hanover, with Mexico being heavily tested by the World Cup debutantes.

Carlos Salcido had a shot go just high of the bar in the 4th minute for Mexico, but Angola were showing signs of danger, with a few half-hearted, but dangerous attacks against the central American giant’s.

Mexico were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area in the 10th minute, but the shot from Pavel Pardo was weak, and easily saved by Angolan keeper Joao Ricardo.

The first yellow card of the match was awarded to Delgado, who was forced to tackle hard to break down the Mexico attack.

Luis Delgado fouled Antonio Zinha and it could have been third time lucky for Pavel Pardo from the free-kick but yet again his delivery was loose. Skipper Rafael Marquez orchestrated an attack and thundered a low, deflected shot on to the base of the post to give the Angolan's a shock.

Angola were commiting a vast amount of fouls in dangerous areas and another free-kick from Mexico saw Pardo deliver the ball into the area, but yet again to no-one.

Just as Angola were beginning to find their feet, Figueredo - who is the most experienced player in the Palancas Negras - was taken down in the 20th minute and had to be stretchered-off, but he returned to the action minutes later had a shot on goal that went just high.

A free-kick from Mendonca didn’t trouble Oswaldo Sanchez in the Mexican goal, but showed the intent of the World Cup debutantes, with Figueredo having another free-kick placed into the box that the captain Akwa headed over.

The Palancas Negras really were giving a good attempt to go out and win the match, matching the heavily favoured Mexican’s getting frustrated at their attacks being broken down, although any attacks from Angola were easily neutralised.

Jamba was yellow-carded in the last minutes of the half and will now miss the next match against Iran. Guillermo Franco couldn’t take advantage of the free-kick having his shot saved at close-range 43rd minute and the game went into half-time 0-0, with Angola putting up a fight in the first period.

Mexico stepped the pace up in the second-half and came close with a break from Guillermo Franco, who was played in, but Joao Ricardo palmed his lob away and with the goalkeeper out of the equation Jesus Arellano scuffed his shot which was cleared.

Mexico then had a barrage of attacks on goal, all of them dealt with by the Palancas Negras, whose keeper Joao Ricardo was exceptional.

Guillermo Franco came off for Jose Fonseca in the 73rd minute, which spiced-up the Mexican attack, but they couldn’t take advantage of their breaks.

Angola’s chances of getting a result were dealt a harsh blow when Andre, who was already on a yellow-card, got sent-off for a deliberate handball in the 78th minute, but still they continued to pressure the central American’s, but the lack of the eleventh man on the pitch was telling in attack.

Jose Fonseca came close in the 81st minute, with a shot that went just wide, and Omar Bravo hit the post in the closing minutes, but still the 10-men of Angola held on to give them a memorable draw after an extremely determined performance againt a very strong attacking team.

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