Mexico – Iran

1. The teams are in for the opening game in Group D: Mexico: Sanchez, Salcido, Mendez, Osorio, Pineda, Marquez, Torrado, Pardo, Franco, Borgetti, Bravo. Subs: Arellano, Castro, Corona, Fonseca, Garcia, Guardado, Morales, Ochoa, Perez, Rodriguez, Suarez, Zinha. Iran: Mirzapour, Golmohammadi, Rezaei, Kaabi, Nosrati, Mahdavikia, Nekounam, Karimi, Teymourian, Hashemian, Daei. Subs: Bakhtiarizadeh, Borhani, Enayati, Kazemeian, Khatibi, Madanchi, Roudbarian, Sadeqi, Shojaei, Talebloo, Zandi. Refe

2. This game pits the leading scorer in international football - Ali Daei - against the most-capped player - Claudio Suarez, though the latter is on the bench.

3. Iran kick off with Mexico and Portugal very much the favourites in this group.

4. 1'

   Karimi has started on the left of the Iranian midfield. Osorio cuts out his throw.

5. 2'

   Loose ball from Marquez early on finds Daei. Kaabi tries a cross, but Mexico can clear.

6. 3'

   Marquez looks to be on the right of a back three for Mexico - he sometimes sweeps up in front of the defence.

7. 3'

   The first shot comes in from Mahdavikia - it's well struck and dips from 30 yards, but goes wide.

8. 4'

   Mexico try to switch play to Mendez on the right, but the pass is just over-hit

9. 5'

   Franco attempts to weave his way through, but is crowded out.

10. 5'

    Nekouman spreads play to Kaabi, who looks an outlet on the right, but his pass is cut out by Marquez

11. 6'

    Fine challenge by Marquez in his own box on Karimi - and he needed to make that.

12. 7'

    At the other end, Borgetti tries to bundle his way through, but he is penalised.

13. 8'

    Iran settle for a spell of slow possession before releasing Hashemian down the left. He, however, can't win a corner.

14. 9'

    Borgetti wins a header from Salcido's long ball, but can't direct it to a team-mate.

15. 9'

    Bravo and Borgetti try to combine but Nosrati makes a timely intervention.

16. 10'

    Osorio looks for Franco, but he doesn't have the pace to reach it.

17. 11'

    Great chance - and Hashemian misses it by trying to be too clever and backheel Mahdavikia's cross in

18. 12'

    Hashemian almost breaks the deadlock - Karimi crosses from the left, the striker angles his header downwards and a diving Sanchez makes a fine save.

19. 13'

    The threat has come from Iran so far, which is something of a surprise. Can Mexico respond?

20. 13'

    Now Mahdavikia has another shot, but it's ambitious to say the least and simple for Sanchez.

21. 14'

    A Mexico free kick 40 yards out. Pardo takes and wastes it completely with a shot-cross that was neither.

22. 15'

    Bravo skips inside two, but Nosrati gets back to make an important challenge in his box

23. 15'

    Pineda's cross is headed down by Franco, but not near enough to Borgetti. The keeper claims.

24. 16'

    Mahdavikia, lively on the right so far, wins Iran a corner.

25. 16'

    He takes it himself, aims for Daei and Mexico scramble it clear.

26. 17'

    Mexico counter attack with Osorio, but his attempt at a lob is simple for Mirzapour.

27. 18'

    Full-blooded sliding tackle by Nosrati on Bravo - perhaps fortunate not to be booked for that.

28. 19'

    Pardo is behind the free kick, but Mirzapour comes out positively to claim.

29. 19'

    Torrado gets the first booking of the game for a rather ungainly swipe at Teymourian.

30. 19'

    Risky play by Osorio, the last man, who evades Daei but is then brought down.

31. 20'

    Marquez brings the ball out of defence positively, goes into traffic and gets fouled.

32. 21'

    Now, can Pardo's set-piece delivery improve? Yes, it does with a dangerous ball that Kaabi, oddly, backheels away.

33. 22'

    Now the game is a little more stretched. Torrado picks out Pineda with a long pass and his cross is headed behing by Golmohammadi.

34. 23'

    Pardo's corner finds Marquez, he wins the header but directs it just past the near post.

35. 24'

    Mexico are back in numbers as Iran enjoy a spell of pressure. Then Salcido, with a header, concedes a corner.

36. 25'

    It is cleared as far as Karimi, who goes further back to Rezaei. His long ball is volleyed back in by Hashemain but Sanchez clears.

37. 25'

    And Mexico have a chance with a counter-attack, led by the lively Bravo. He delays the cross for too long and Kaabi comes across to cover.

38. 26'

    Franco wins a header from the corner, but can't direct it near goal.

39. 26'

    Borgetti drops deep to pick up the ball. He's fouled 40 yards out and Pardo has another free kick.

40. 27'

    That's a dangerous free kick and Mirzapour has come out well to punch it clear.

41. 28'

    A second free kick, for a handball by Karimi, is generous. Pardo takes again - and it's a goal. Bravo turns it in at the far post after Franco met the free kick with a downward header

42. 29'

    A well-worked set piece from Mexico there, and it left Bravo completely unmarked to tap in.

43. 30'

    Mexico look much more confident now and, with so many men in midfield, they could be hard to break down.

44. 31'

    But that's a great ball from Mahdavikia across the six-yard box - and it evades everyone.

45. 32'

    Pineda's deep ball is taken down well by Bravo. He finds Pardo for the shot, but it's very gentle.

46. 34'

    Hashemian attempts to get down the left flank, but Marquez comes across to concede a throw.

47. 35'

    Now Hashemian has gone over to the right and he has forced a corner there.

48. 36'

    Mahdavikia takes and Iran equalise. Nosrati jumps with the keeper and Golmohammadi taps in from close range.

49. 36'

    The Iranians are back level and Sanchez has to shoulder the blame. He came to the corner, failed to gather and left a simple tap-in.

50. 38'

    Borgetti wins Mexico a free kick and, after two goals from set pieces so far, this could spell danger.

51. 38'

    Pardo steps over it, Marques hits it and it rebounds back off the wall.

52. 40'

    Marquez and Mendez attempt to combine on the right, but there is no way through for Bravo.

53. 41'

    Mahdavikia sets off on a solo run, but Mexico defend well and Osorio gets a foot in.

54. 42'

    Teymourian wins Mexico a free kick. Mahdavikia takes, Pineda heads away on the edge of the box.

55. 43'

    Marquez's long ball is struck too hard for Borgetti ti control.

56. 45'

    Marquez with a throw as the first half drifts towards its end. Iran will be the happier at this stage, you would imagine, especially after coming back from a 1-0 deficit.

57. 45'

    That's half time - all square after two set-piece goals from Bravo and Golmohammadi.

58. 46'

    Double change for Mexico - Zinha and Perez on, Torrado and Franco go off. Interesting - are both tactical?

59. 46'

    Mexico start the second half after those two changes by La Volpe, which could be an indication of dissatisfaction.

60. 47'

    Mexico appear to have switched to 4-4-2 for the second half.

61. 47'

    So far, this half is being played at a leisurely pace.

62. 48'

    Pardo's chip finds Borgetti onside, he eventually gets the cross in and Nekounam heads it away.

63. 48'

    Borgetti lays it back to Perez, but his attempt at a shot is miscued and well wide.

64. 49'

    Karimi attempts to dart inside, but loses possession. Then Nosrati gets the ball and is brought down. It's a little scrappy in the midfield.

65. 50'

    Rezaei concedes a throw near the corner flag and a worry for Mexico as Borgetti appears to have a knock. He has signalled something to the bench.

66. 50'

    And it looks as though Borgetti will have to come off, probably with a hamstring injury, so Mexico are about to make their third change.

67. 51'

    meanwhile Osorio clears for a throw and Hashemian attempts, and fails, to win a corner.

68. 51'

    The juggling Bravo is alone up front now, and tries to juggle his way through. He is outnumbered.

69. 52'

    Off goes Borgetti, whose World Cup could be over, and Jose Fonseca is his replacement.

70. 52'

    Karimi is stopped by Marquez, who appears to be in midfield now. He brings the ball forward, but can't find Fonseca.

71. 53'

    Rezaei makes a diving header to clear as Marquez threatens to get a shot in in the Iran box.

72. 54'

    Bravo takes on a defender and wins a corner on the left flank.

73. 55'

    Pardo, the set-piece expert, will take. Marquez makes the near-post run but Daei gets it away.

74. 55'

    Booking, and a needless one for Nekounam, for kicking the ball away.

75. 56'

    Mahdavikia leads a counter attack, goes for the shot from 25 and it is held on the bounce by Sanchez.

76. 56'

    Bravo goes down in the Iran box under Rezaei's challenge but, correctly, it is a corner and not a penalty.

77. 57'

    Pardo takes, Fonseca wins the header, but Iran get it away at the back post.

78. 58'

    Marquez, who has been very positive in this second half, finds Mendez, but his cross is easy for Mirzapour.

79. 58'

    Now this is a better penalty appeal. Marquez heads it beyond the defender Golmohammadi and is taken out. The referee waves play on, but that should have been a spot kick for Mexico.

80. 59'

    Interesting to see the difference Marquez has made in midfield. He's really driving Mexico forward.

81. 59'

    Iran threaten an attack with Hashemian and Daei, but Mexico soon have numbers back to smother it.

82. 60'

    Terrific pass from Marquez out to Pineda on the left, but his cross finds an Iranian head.

83. 61'

    There's no way through for the lively Bravo there, but Teymourian blocked him off illegally and it is a free kick.

84. 61'

    Pardo takes but Daei is back on defensive duties to head it away.

85. 62'

    Iran are set to make a change with Madanchi set to come on. On the pitch, Nasrati blazes a shot way over the bar.

86. 63'

    Karimi is the man who goes off for Madanchi in Iran's first substitution. Mexico, of course, have made all three.

87. 64'

    Zinha glides past one on the right flank, but Iran are doubling up against him.

88. 64'

    A poor header back from Golmahammadi concedes a corner needlessly.

89. 64'

    Mexico take it short, then Pardo crosses and Iran get it away at the near post.

90. 65'

    Another fine pass from Marquez to pick out Zinha, but once again, Mexico can only find their opponents with the cross.

91. 67'

    Dangerous cross from Teymourian, aimed at the head of Daei, but he can only glance his header wide.

92. 69'

    Strong challenge from Madanchi on Marquez.

93. 69'

    Mexico on top now and looking the more likely winners, but Iran still have an aerial threat.

94. 71'

    Salcido and Fonseca link up, Pineda comes off his wing to join in but the move breaks down.

95. 72'

    Zinha's cross is easy for Iran, and Mexico are struggling to get to the byline to get better crosses in.

96. 73'

    Better ball by Salcido, well headed away by Nosrati at the back post.

97. 73'

    Bravo on the burst almost gets through, but this time it's Rezaei with an important challenge.

98. 74'

    Another important block from Rezaei to stop Mendez's cross from reaching its intended target.

99. 75'

    Another free kick for Pardo, but this is one of his poorest, and volleyed away at the near post.

100. 76'

     GOAL - Bravo doubles his tally and may have given Mexico the win with a calm sidefoot from Perez's through ball.

101. 76'

     It came from a poor clearance from the keeper then Zinha robbed Nosrati and Bravo capitalised.

102. 78'

     Iran have come back once - can they do so again? A point here would certainly give them a chance of qualifying. Without it, they may need a result against Portugal

103. 79'

     AND NOW THERE'S NO WAY BACK. The sub Zinha, the Brazilian-Mexican, heads in Mendez's cross

104. 80'

     Terrific downward header into the bottom corner of the goal and Lavolpe's substitutions at half-time have paid off.

105. 81'

     Nosrati makes way for Borhani as Iran make their second change.

106. 81'

     Now Iran do appear beaten. The response has been limited and after defending so well, those two quick goals look like deciding this game.

107. 83'

     Marquez is in cruise control. He's been imperious today and his move into midfield has been crucial.

108. 85'

     Iran are leaving eight outfield players behind the ball at all times and you suspect they don't have the belief for a fightback.

109. 86'

     Perez picks out Pineda on the left. His cross is good and Kaabi comes across well to cut it out. Corner.

110. 86'

     Pardo takes it short, the ball goes to Perez who takes a rather theatrical tumble. No penalty.

111. 87'

     A first corner of the second half for Iran...

112. 88'

     Mahdavikia takes, but Mexico head it away

113. 88'

     A rare misplaced pass by Marquez, overhit and gifting Iran a throw.

114. 89'

     The tricky Hashemian keeps on going down the right flank, but Mexico are doubling up on him now.

115. 90'

     Zinha picks out Mendez in space. His cross is high, Fonseca wins the header, but his looping header poses few problems for Mirzapour.

116. 91'

     Booking - Salcido sees yellow, which won't affect the result now, but could pose him problems later.

117. 91'

     Mahdavikia is behind the free kick. He curls it, it's headed out and crossed back to Rezaei, but Mexico are awarded a free kick.

118. 92'

     Two additional minutes are signalled as Mexico go forward.

119. 92'

     Bravo's brace and that Zinha goal give Mexico a winning start. Iran acquitted themselves well and their defending was impressive until those two goals in four minutes delivered Mexico the win.

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