DISAPPOINTING DRAW DESPITE NUMEROUS CHANCES, MEXICO ENDS UP IN SCORELESS TIE WORLD CUP: MEXICO 0, ANGOLA 0.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

HANNOVER, Germany -- The roar that greeted Francisco Fonseca was equal parts gratitude, celebration and plea. Here is our savior, it said. Now save us.

Fonseca is the people's choice -- but not always Ricardo Lavolpe's -- and his entry, finally, into the Tricolores' second Group D clash was opportunity for many things: to calm the frayed nerves of the mostly pro-Mexico crowd of 43,000 at Niedersachsenstadion; to show Mexico's coach he's wrong to leave the beloved ``Kikin'' on the bench; and, most of all, to deliver some measure of salvation, ensuring the Tri's participation in the World Cup's knockout phase.

So when things didn't fall as expected, when Fonseca's chances -- and there were several in his 20 minutes -- were just off target, and when Mexico couldn't solve upstart Angola, the disappointment was palpable.

A superior second half, and especially a dominant final 15 minutes, led to nothing, and a 0-0 draw left Mexico's hopes of advancement shrouded by uncertainty.

Fonseca failed to convert three solid chances after coming on in the 74th minute, first-game hero Omar Bravo and fellow striker Guillermo Franco wasted several opportunities, and Rafael Marquez's long-range blasts hit a post or was parried by diving Angola goalkeeper Joao Ricardo. It was enough to push Mexico a point ahead in the D standings, but that likely won't last long, with Portugal taking on struggling Iran today, and Wednesday's group finales offer much to fear.

``We controlled the ball for most of the game -- we played well,'' Lavolpe said. ``Sometimes the ball doesn't want to go into the goal. When that happens, you end up with a draw. ... I can't tell my players how they should improve, because they were very good over 90 minutes.''

Mexico has emerged as a popular favorite in Germany, and among the Germans, largely in response to Oswaldo Sanchez's plight -- the goalkeeper's father died from a heart attack as he prepared to travel to Germany -- and there was plenty of Deutsche among the Spanish in the ubiquitous green shirts in the stadium and on the streets of Hannover.

The crowd was ready to party; all it needed was a spark, a trigger, and each scoring opportunity -- and there were many -- stoked the anticipation.

Carlos Salcido was first, surging forward seconds into the match, cutting inside, then unleashing a shot from 30 yards that just cleared the crossbar, landing on the roof of the goal. Not 13 minutes later, Marquez -- the most important of Mexico's stars -- had his chance, a free kick from 35 yards, blasted low.

Kikin came in to spell Franco in the second half, and Angola midfielder Andre was ejected a few minutes later for his second yellow card -- intentionally handling the ball to halt a Mexican foray near, of all places, the midfield stripe -- and Mexico spent the final 20 minutes surrounding Angola's box.

The Africans were celebrating when it was done. Their first point in a World Cup was so historic, coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves called it a victory, ``the best result in the history of Angolan football'' and ``a party for Angolans.''

It might spoil Mexico's party. If Portugal, as expected, wins today, Iran is eliminated. If Portugal beats Mexico and Angola tops Iran in the final group matches, the Mexicans and Angolans would have four points, and goal-differential would be the first tiebreaker. Mexico stands at plus-1, Angola at minus-1.

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(color) Angolan midfielder Figueiredo, left, vies for the ball with Mexican midfielder Gerardo Torrado.

Gabriel Bouys/Associated Press