Two goals in four second-half minutes saw Mexico win their first World Cup match of the tournament.

It turned out to be a comfortable win for the Central Americans but Iran gave them a good game, particularly in the first half.

The match was played at a high-tempo and swung from end to end as each side took turns to attack the other.

But it was Mexico who drew first blood as Omar Bravo netted a half-volley from a well worked free-kick.

After wasting several set-pieces, the Mexicans got a free-kick out to the right of the Iranian penalty area. The kick was wickedly swung in towards the penalty spot where it was flicked on to Bravo who netted from close range.

Mexico looked like they would then take control of the game but their lead lasted just ten minutes.

Iran won a corner which was swung in to the six-yard box and looked relatively straight forward for the defence to clear. But the Mexican 'keeper, Oswaldo Sanchez, flapped hopelessly at the ball and it fell kindly to Yahya Golmohammadi who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The teams went in level, in terms of both scoreline and performance, but it was Mexico who were to take the initiative in the second half.

It didn't look good for the Mexicans as they were forced into their third substitution of the game on 52 minutes. Jared Borgetti pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain and was replaced by Jose Fonseca.

But the most influential substitution of the half was the introduction of Antonio Naelson Zinha for Gerardo Torrado.

The Mexican number seven, Brazilian by birth, had a massive impact on the game, setting up the second and scoring the third.

Mexico regained the lead on 76 minutes when a poor clearance from Ebrahim Mirzapour was nudged back to Rahman Rezaei who miscontrolled and gave the ball away to Zinha. He then fed a ball through to Bravo who slotted his second past the Iranian 'keeper.

Mexico then made the game safe four minutes later when a great move upfield led to Zinha heading home a sublime cross from Mario Mendez.

It was a fair result on the balance of play and Mexico may well feel that this could be the year when they end their run of underachievement European soil.