FORTALEZA, Brazil — The way Guillermo Ochoa played, it’s hard to believe there was any doubt about wh

o was Mexico’s No. 1

goalkeeper.

Ochoa was superb Tuesday, making one spectacular save after another to give Mexico a 0-0 tie with host Brazil. In El Tri’s last 14 games against the selecao, they’re 7-4-3.

The teams are tied atop the group with four points each – Brazil leads on goal differential – but Croatia and Cameroon were still to play.

OCHOA: Watch goalkeeper’s jaw-dropping saves

The tie delighted the enthusiastic Mexico fans, who serenaded El Tri with a chorus of “Ole! Ole! Ole!” when the game ended.

They also chanted “O-cho-a! O-cho-a!” – with good reason.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera didn’t decide on his starting goalkeeper until right before the team left for Brazil, alternating between Ochoa, London Olympic gold medalist Jose Corona and Alfredo Talavera. But Ochoa is looking like one of the best in the world after two games without giving up a goal.

And he had his hands more than full with Neymar and Co. If not for Ochoa’s catlike reflexes and quick hands, Brazil easily would have won the game 4-0.

His save on a Neymar header in the 26th minute was, simply, spectacular. Neymar outjumped Rafa Marquez for the ball just outside the box, and it looked certain to be a goal. But with catlike quickness, Ochoa dove to his right and extended his hand, getting the very tips of his fingers on the ball to push it out of harm’s way.

In the closing minutes of the half, he blocked Paulinho’s rebound shot on a Brazil free kick.

And in the 85th, he body-blocked Thiago Silva’s header off a Neymar free kick. The Brazil captain knew he’d blown a big opportunity, rapping his head with his knuckles and shaking his head.

This is the third summer in a row Mexico and Brazil have played each other. They met in the gold medal final at the London Olympics two summers ago, with Mexico a surprise 2-1 winner. Thirteen players from those squads are here in Brazil, including three starters on each team.

Brazil avenged that loss in last summer’s Confederations Cup, beating El Tri 2-0 on goals from Neymar and Jo – in this same stadium, no less.

But Ochoa wasn’t in the net for Mexico then, and that made all the difference Tuesday.