The Netherlands, Mexico and Portugal each emerged victorious Sunday in their first matches of the 2006 World Cup.
Omar Bravo scored once in each half to lead Mexico to a 3-1 Group D victory against Iran in Nuremberg, Germany. Mexico broke a 1-1 draw late in the second half with goals by Bravo in the 76th minute and second-half substitute Zinha in the 79th minute.
Bravo converted his second goal off a through ball from Zinha for the eventual game-winning tally. Zinha, who replace Guillermo Franco at the start of the second half, then took advantage of the Iranian defense by finishing off a give-and-go with Jose Fonseca to head home the insurance goal.
In the 28th minute, Bravo poked a loose ball into the back of the net for Mexico's first score of the day.
Eight minutes later, Iran knotted the match at 1-1 with a goal by Yahya Golmohammadi, who picked off a loose ball from a corner kick and rifled it just under the crossbar from close range.
Emotions ran high for 'El Tri' entering their first match of the 2006 World Cup with starting goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez leaving the team midweek to attend his father's funeral in Mexico. Sanchez returned in time to make the start, receiving the support of his teammates and opposition as Iran goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour delivered a bouquet of flowers to the mourning Mexican 'keeper prior to the start of the match.
Mexico's lone concern to emerge from Sunday's win has to be the health of star striker Jared Borgetti, who limped off the field in the second half, eventually being substituted for by Fonseca. Borgetti scored more goals than any other player in the qualifying stages with 14 in the CONCACAF region.
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands kept pace with Argentina in Group C by beating Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 in Leipzig on the strength of a 17th-minute goal from Arjen Robben.
The offside trap worked against Serbia and Montenegro as Robin van Persie delivered a perfect through ball to Robben, who held off a defender and coolly slotted a low shot under the reach of Serbia and Montenegro goalkeeper Dragoslav Jervic.
In Sunday's final match, Portugal made a goal in the fourth minute by Pauleta stand up, beating Angola 1-0 in their Group D contest in Cologne. The World Cup match was the first ever for the African country.
Portugal captain Luis Figo served as playmaker on the game's lone strike, taking on Angola defender Jamba before squaring a pass to Pauleta, who easily converted. The goal was Portugal's second fastest ever in World Cup play.
Patrick Mulrenin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
