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Bravo double seals Mexico victory
Bravo's strikes proved decisive as Mexico opened with a win. SPECIAL REPORTNUREMBERG, Germany -- Omar Bravo scored a goal in each half to lead Mexico to a 3-1 win over Iran in their World Cup Group D opener in Nuremberg on Sunday. Bravo hit the opener and the decisive second after Yahya Golmohammadi equalized for Iran after 36 minutes. Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, who lost his father earlier in the week, was embraced by his teammates in an emotional end to the match. He had only rejoined the team a day earlier after flying back from Mexico where he had attended the funeral. Iran had been the livelier team at the start and Sanchez made a fine save as early as the 12th minute from Vahid Hashermian's downward header. The Mexicans responded 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 Bravo to tap in. Iran's equalizer came after Mehdi Mahdavikia's corner caused havoc and defender Golmohammadi slammed in the loose ball. Mexico coach Ricardo 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 but the substitution worked wonders. Zinha pounced on a mix-up in the defense in the 76th minute to feed Bravo for his second goal of the game. Zinha made sure of victory with a thumping header from a cross by Mario Mendez in the 79th minute. Lavolpe said the backing of Mexican fans had helped inspire his team to their crucial win. "The crowd movitated us, gave us more incentive, and I believe in the second half they got behind us more and for that reason we won," he told Mexican TV. "In the second half, I believe the team started to loosen up, play better touch football. Before then they were a bit nervous."
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