Mexico: Sanchez, Marquez, Osorio, Salcido, Mendez, Torrado (Perez 45), Pardo, Pineda, Bravo, Borgetti (Fonseca 51), Franco (Zinha 45).

Iran: Mirzapour, Kaabi, Rezaei, Golmohammadi, Nosrati (Borhani 81), Mahdavikia, Karimi (Madanchi62), Nekounam, Teymourian, Hashemian, Daei.

What was a surprisingly entertaining, open and even game in the first half lost much of its' attraction after half time as Iran went back into their shells and allowed Mexico to dominate. Eventually this would cost them and it was a real pity as they had looked capable of causing a surprise before the break.

The game started with Mexico launching long diagonal balls towards either flank whereas Iran looked the tidier side working the ball through midfield.

Teymourian made a smart interception and sent Karimi running into the box. He was faced by Marquez, Mexico's Barcelona star, and never looked like going past him.

The confidence of the Iranians on the ball was evident, however, and they should have taken the lead on 11 minutes after a superb move. Mahdavikia sent a killer ball down the right hand channel to release Kaabi and his low ball across goal should have been buried by Hashemian. The striker tried an elaborate, and unnecessary, flick and missed the ball completely.

Karimi retrieved possession and sent in a fine centre from the left and this time the striker got in a firm downward header that Sanchez did well to claw away going to his left.

The Mexicans responded with a great ball into the box from the left but with targets open inside him Franco misdirected his header down hopelessly.

Generally, though, the Mexicans were only looking dangerous on quick breaks when an Iranian move broke down or from set pieces. Iran were certainly conceding too many of these in dangerous areas.

Pardo was being given consistent opportunities to send balls spearing into the Iranian box and Golmohammadi executed a nimble back heel to clear one of these from underneath his own crossbar and the keeper Mirzapour just about got rid of another after coming into a crowd scene. Marquez would also have been disappointed to head over from a corner after the keeper advanced but got nowhere near the ball.

The pressure told when Prado clipped a free kick from the right hand side of the box back towards the penalty spot to find Franco arriving unmarked. His header was probably meant for goal but served better as an assist and found Bravo unmarked, but onside, six yards out and he shot home with ease.

Iran continued to move the ball forward well but had little to nothing up front. They worked particularly well down the right hand side and Mahdavikia sent in a lovely ball but there was no interest being shown in it by the forwards.

They did draw level ten minutes from half time from a right wing corner, however. Sanchez hesitated and although he manged to block Rezaei's header the ball dropped for Golmohammadi to stab into the roof of the net.

At half time there was nothing to choose between the sides and it looked like a game that could genuinely go either way.

Half Time: Mexico 1 Iran 1

Mexico made two changes at half time in a bid to stiffen and refresh the midfield where Iran had held sway. Marquez quickly showed that he was more ready to step out of the back to push the side forward and they soon assumed command.

It was disappointing to see Iran so happy to sit back. Little was now seen of the passing moves through midfield as they sought to hang on for a point.

Mexico were labouring up front themselves at this stage. Borgetti, who did nothing of note, was too slow to get on the end of a good ball in by Pardo and when he then laid the ball off for Perez the sub hit his shot sideways, the ball going out for a throw in.

Soon afterwards Borgetti had to retire with what looked like a hamstring strain and with 40 minutes left Mexico had used all their substitutions.

Prado was having more chances to probe in open play as Mexico began to totally dominate and he almost had Bravo in only for Rezaei to make a fine clearance.

Then the increasingly influential Marquez breezed forward to instigate a lovely move which ended with him surging into the box to be taken out clearly by Golmohammadi. Bizarrely the referee saw nothing amiss.

Nosrati sliced badly wide of the near post in a rare Iranian venture forward but it was now almost all Mexico. Marquez was unleashing a stream of crossfield passes out to the wings that were impressively accurate.

There was still little to trouble the central defenders or keeper, however, and a breakthrough was beginning to look increasingly unlikely, especially as Rezaei continued to sweep up diligently whenever danger threatened.

With 15 minutes left, however, Iran self destructed to concede the most embarrassing goal of the tournament so far.

Mirzapour started the mess by hitting a weak clearance from his goalmouth. The ball was headed towards the box but fell straight for Rezaei. He tried to control the ball but his first touch was dreadful and simply presented the ball to Zinha who instantly put Bravo through on the keeper.

As if all that wasn't bad enough Mirzapour then slipped allowing the Mexican to just roll the ball into the corner of the net.

Buoyed the Mexicans quickly made the game safe with a fine goal. Prado started the move by finding Zinha in space. He slipped the ball out wide to Mendes and motored into the middle to despatch his excellent centre into the bottom corner with a sweet header.

The game ended with Mexico in complete control and yours truly wondering why the Iranian centre forward Daei was still on the pitch. They had basically been playing with ten from the word go.

Full Time: Mexico 3 Iran 1

Mexico: Sanchez 6, Marquez 9, Osorio 8, Salcido 5, Mendez 7, Torrado 3 (Perez 6), Pardo 8, Pineda 3, Bravo 8, Borgetti 4 (Fonseca 4), Franco 6 (Zinha 7).

Iran: Mirzapour 5, Kaabi 7, Rezaei 7, Golmohammadi 6, Nosrati 6 (Borhani 3), Mahdavikia 8, Karimi 7 (Madanchi 4), Nekounam 7, Teymourian 7, Hashemian 5, Daei 0.

Referee: R.Rosetti (Italy) 6
He was going really well and in line for a high mark until he somehow failed to award Mexico their penalty. A bit whistle happy but they've been told to blow for just about everything so its' hard to blame him.

Good:
Marquez, the bloke from Barcelona. Won some storming challenges with well timed tackles and sprayed the ball about like Glenda Hoddle at times. His adventure should have brought a second half penalty. He can also go into a hard challenge without flinching.

Bad:
This Daei bloke up front for Iran is an old chap who's scored loads of goals in his time, apparently, but he failed to make a single worthwhile contribution.
He just stood around looking like an old man as the game went on around him. Absolute bobbins.

Ugly:
The Mexican manager. He was a bit of a scary beast.