Mexico 3 Iran 1

Mexico scored twice in the final 20 minutes to defeat Iran 3-1 in their opening match in Nuremberg. Late goals from Omar Blanco and Antonio Zinha handed Mexico a comfortable victory.

Mexico took the lead early from a free-kick that was passed Franco to give Bravo a simple shot.

Iran drew level with a Yahya Golmohammadi goal.

With the teams tied at 1-1, Omar Bravo's second goal of the match, in the 76th minute, put Mexico up 2-1. Three minutes later Zinha headed the third to seal victory for Ricardo La Volpe's side.

Bravo had earlier given Mexico the lead after 28 minutes before Iran drew level on 36 minutes through defender Yahya Golmohammadi.

Mexico, running a three-forward attack in the first half with Bravo, Franco and Jared Borgetti, was sloppy in its passing at both ends of the field. But the defense, led by Rafael Marquez, kept Iran from capitalizing on lapses.

Marquez, the team's captain, moved into more of an attacking role after the break and it paid off.

Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe went back to a conventional 4-4-2 alignment to start the second half, substituting Zinha for Franco. He also was forced to take out Borgetti in the 52nd minute.

Iran seemed happy to settle for one point so their late collapse cost them the point and Mexico take three points. Iran looked dangerous at times and the result reflects a little harshly on Iran.

The result means Iran fail to improve on their record of only one victory in the World Cup.

Mexico: Sanchez, Salcido, Mendez, Osorio, Pineda, Marquez, Torrado (Perez 45), Pardo, Franco (Zinha 45), Borgetti (Fonseca 52), Bravo.
Subs Not Used: Arellano, Castro, Corona, Garcia, Guardado, Morales, Ochoa, Rodriguez, Suarez.

Booked: Torrado, Salcido.

Goals: Bravo 28, 76, Zinha 79.

Iran: Mirzapour, Golmohammadi, Rezaei, Kaabi, Nosrati (Borhani 81), Mahdavikia, Nekounam, Karimi (Madanchi 62), Teymourian, Hashemian, Daei.
Subs Not Used: Bakhtiarizadeh, Enayati, Kazemeian, Khatibi, Roudbarian, Sadeqi, Shojaei, Talebloo, Zandi.

Booked: Nekounam.

Goals: Golmohammadi 36.

Att: 41,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)