Soccer: Bravo double guides Mexico past Iran

Mexico's Omar Bravo (right) scores his side's second goal past Iran's Ebrahim Mirzapour. Picture / Reuters

NUREMBERG - Striker Omar Bravo scored two goals to give Mexico a 3-1 win over Iran in their soccer World Cup Group D opener here this morning.

Coach Ricardo Lavolpe was pleased with the performance and thanked a sizeable Mexican contingent in the crowd for their vocal support.

"The crowd motivated us, gave us more incentive," Lavolpe said.

"I believe in the second half they got behind us more and for that reason we won."

Iran were the livelier team at the start and came close to scoring in the 12th minute when Ali Karimi crossed to Vahid Hashemian and his downward header forced a sharp low save from goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Sanchez had only rejoined the team a day earlier after flying back to Mexico last week for his father's funeral.

The Mexicans quickly upped the tempo and went in front in the 28th minute when Pavel Pardo floated a ball for Guillermo Franco in the penalty area and he nodded it on for the 26-year-old Bravo to tap in.

Iran levelled eight minutes later when Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner caused havoc and defender Yahya Golmohammadi slammed in the loose ball.

Lavolpe brought on midfielder Zinha at halftime in place of striker Guillermo Franco to give Jared Borgetti more space up front.

Borgetti, however, limped off seven minutes later.

Mexico gained control of the midfield, pushing for a second goal, but a packed Iran defence gave keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour little to do.

Even striker Ali Daei, 37, who became his country's oldest World Cup player, often went back to help out.

Iran gifted Mexico their second goal after a poor clearance by Mirzapour in the 76th minute.

Zinha pounced on the defensive confusion to feed Bravo and he applied a cool, side-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net as the onrushing Mirzapour lost his footing.

Zinha made sure of victory with a thumping header from a cross by Mario Mendez in the 79th.

"In the second half I believe the team started to loosen up, play better touch football, Lavolpe said.

"Before then they were a bit nervous. We have to keep working, correct some mistakes from the first half, but what gives us most satisfaction are the three points."

- REUTERS