Sports

Mexico, needing a draw to advance, scoreless at halftime vs Croatia

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Mexico's Oribe Peralta, left, fights for the ball with Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko during the group A World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (The Associated Press)

Mexico's Oribe Peralta heads the ball next to Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko during the group A World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (The Associated Press)

Mexico and Croatia were scoreless at halftime in their World Cup Group A match on Monday.

Needing only a draw to advance to the second round of the World Cup for a sixth straight time, Mexico had the better of the first half, looking dangerous on the break.

Croatia, which has to win to guarantee advancement, enjoyed the bulk of possession, but did not truly threaten Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.

Mexico enjoyed the better of the chances, coming closest when Hector Herrera rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard shot.

Croatia has qualified for the second stage only once before, in 1998.