• Home Page
• Asia
• Europe
• U.S.
• World
• World Business
• Technology
• Science & Space
• Entertainment
• World Sport
• Football Update
• Formula 1
• Golf
• Sailing
• Travel
• Weather
• Special Reports
• Video
• I-Reports

CNN Pipeline

 

What's On

 

Art of Life

 

Business Traveller

 

Future Summit

 

Inside the Mideast

 

Principal Voices

 

Quest

 

Revealed

 

Talk Asia

 

Services --------- E-mail Mobile Desktop Alerts RSS AvantGo Make Home Page Ad Info About Us How To Get CNN Partner Hotels

 

Languages --------- Korean Arabic Japanese Spanish Turkish

Bravo double seals Mexico victory

Bravo's strikes proved decisive as Mexico opened with a win.

SPECIAL REPORT

• Knockout stage | Team Profiles

• Match Schedule | Stadiums

• Dream Team | Cup History

• Your E-mails | Your Photos

• Special: World Cup 2006

NUREMBERG, 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."

Story Tools

Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time!

Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.