SPORT

- reported by Osiris, from Germany.


GROUP D : ANGOLA, IRAN, MEXICO, PORTUGAL

Results of first matches:

Mexico 3 - 1 Iran
Angola 0 - 1 Portugal

A serious defending blunder allowed Mexico to score twice and the break the deadlock which the Iranians had been holding on for 40 minutes. The first 2 goals which came from each side were from set pieces. In the 28th minute Mexico won a free-kick 10 yards from the touchline after Ali Karimi was adjudged to have handled the ball and Gerardo Torrado's centre was headed into Omar Bravo's path by Guillermo Franco before the Guaddalajara striker sidefooted the ball home.

But Iran refused to roll over and nine minutes from time they put themselves back into the game when Yahya Golmohammadi fired a rebound from a corner high into the net.

In the second half Iran lost their pace they once had in the first half and they were rarely the threat. Rather it was Mexico who looked more threatening now. But Iran still held on to that 1 - 1 draw until their defence hit the self-destruct button in the 76th minute. Goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour miskicked a clearance before Rahman Rezaei lost possession outside the box to Mexican substitute Antonio Zinha, whose perfectly weighted pass left Bravo with the simplest of finishes.

3 minutes later, Mexico were on it again. An unmarked Zinha headed past Mirzapour to give the South American side the perfect start to their World Cup camapign in Germany.

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