Mexico: Sanchez, Marquez, Osorio, Salcido, Mendez, Torrado, Pardo, Pineda (Morales 78), Zinha (Arellano 51), Franco (Fonseca 73), Bravo.

Angola: Joao Ricardo, Loco, Jamba, Kali, Delgado, Ze Kalanga (Miloy 82), Andre, Figueiredo (Rui Marques 72), Mendonca, Mateus (Mantorras 67), Akwa.

There were a couple of tough acts to follow for these two nations after the earlier treats offered in Group C and to be fair neither side made any pretensions to matching that kind of quality or entertainment. This was garbage.

Mexico started in a hurry hoping to catch the Angolans cold and Salcido came forward from the back to hit a dipping drive that looked to have Joao Ricardo worried. It was always going over, however.

Angola were prone to invite pressure in the early stages, particularly through conceding free kicks, but the mexicans could not profit and the game quickly lulled into apparent apathy. Angola started keeping possession better but never really looked to go anywhere with it.

Mexico were awarded another free kick some 35 yards out and the wall looked a shambles even as it was being set up. Marquez stepped forward to slam a low drive straight through the wall and a slight deflection sent it skidding against the foot of the post. It all happened in slow motion.

A really poor game was made even less attractive by the constant stoppages. Free kicks, offsides, injuries. You name it, if it wasn't something pleasing on the eye then we had it.

Angola got within range to chance their arm on a few occasions but their efforts were cringeworthy. Figueiredo was well over from 25 yards and Mendonca was even further away with a shot from out wide.

Undeterred the same player then had a go from 50 yards out and managed to get the ball as far again over the bar. At least.

Then Figueiredo dinked a clever free kick into the near post and Akwa, arriving first, had a decent headed chance. He too was well off target, however.

Jamba had to execute one acrobatic clearance from almost underneath the crossbar after his keeper had failed to hold a drilled centre while Marquez then managed a splendid header from 20 yards that flew just over the angle, of his own goal!

The half ended with perhaps the clearest chance, although it was hardly well worked.

Franco had a decent headed chance but missed the ball completely and was lucky to see the ball land perfectly at his feet right in the heart of the box. He was too slow getting his shot away, however, and Joao Ricardo flew out bravely to block.

It had not been a good half.

Half Time: Mexico 0 Angola 0

The second half got no better.

Marquez roamed forward on a couple of occasions early on to suggest a more positive attitude from the Mexicans but after his centres had been awkwardly cleared the game began to drift mundanely once again.

One neat Angolan passing move ended with Mendonca hitting a clean strike for once but the ball flew straight at Sanchez.

Without playing well the Mexicans began to receive the gift of sporadic chances through messy defending by Angola.

Two headers from a long Mendez through ball ended with Franco through on the goalkeeper. He went for the lob and Joao Ricardo was able to parry. The ball dropped for the substitute Arellano but he could only manage a scuffed shot and Jamba had got back to boot off the line.

Jamba then crashed an intended clearance against a startled colleague and the rebound put Bravo clear. With only the keeper to beat he tapped a woeful effort straight into his grateful arms.

Akwa almost put through his own net when the keeper came for another corner and got nowhere near it and it looked as though a posse of Angolan defenders were going to allow Mendez to go through onto a return pass before finally crowding him out at the last.

With just over ten minutes remaining Andre managed to make it even harder for his side by earning his second yellow card for a ridiculous handball around the halfway line. Bonkers.

Now Mexico really began to press but still their efforts looked hopeful more than anything else.

Arellano produced his one good moment with a clever chip to the back post but Fonseca wasted it with a terrible volley from six yards out before the striker almost made amends as he tried to wriggle through the Angolan defence. Again the numbers finally told.

As the clock counted down Marquez laced one from 35 yards and Joao Ricardo was at full stretch to turn it behind for a corner. When that was swung over the keeper again came without getting there and Bravo slid in at the back post but could only hit the outside of the post with the goal gaping.

After that Joao Ricardo needed to take one more centre and Angola had their point.

Getting it had not been a pretty exercise, however.

Full Time: Mexico 0 Angola 0

Mexico: Sanchez 5, Marquez 6, Osorio 4, Salcido 5, Mendez 5, Torrado 1, Pardo 4, Pineda 5 (Morales 3), Zinha 4 (Arellano 2), Franco 3 (Fonseca 1), Bravo 3.

Angola: Joao Ricardo 6, Loco 4, Jamba 5, Kali 5, Delgado 3, Ze Kalanga 3, Andre 1, Figueiredo 6 (Rui Marques 5), Mendonca 3, Mateus 2 (Mantorras 1), Akwa 2.

Referee: S.Maidin (Singapore) 6
The game didn't flow at all but you could hardly blame him for the constant interruptions. Both sides were too bad not to commit constant petty, clumsy fouls.
Made it two sendings off in two games but, again, he had little choice.

Good:
Are you kidding? The final whistle maybe.

Bad:
The invention of television, satellite etc.

Ugly:
We've already picked on Loco's ridiculous fringe but what about Torrado's Muppet Show hairstyle?