Portugal beat Mexico 2-1 in an incident-packed clash in Gelsenkirchen as both sides progressed to the last 16 of the tournament.

A below-strength Portugal side looked to be cruising to victory when they took a two-goal lead in the first half but Mexico came back strongly despite being reduced to ten men after the break and were unfortunate not to force a draw.

Luiz Felipe Scolari made five changes to his Portugal side as he rested all the players who had picked up a yellow card in the first two group matches but it was Mexico that opened brightly and Francisco Fonseca forced Ricardo into a fine early save.

However, Portugal took the lead with their first attack in the sixth minute. Simao's trickery took him into the penalty area and, when he laid the ball off to Maniche, the midfielder fired home past Oswaldo Sanchez.

Mexico were stunned by the goal as Portugal took control of the match and Scolari's side were handed the perfect chance to double their lead midway through the first half when Rafael Marquez inexplicably handled the ball and Simao gleefully blasted home the penalty.

It looked as though Portugal would ease to victory but Mexico hit back well and deservedly pulled a goal back five minutes later when Pavel Pardo's corner was headed home by the unmarked Fonseca.

Mexico continued to dominate and they were unfortunate not to equalise just before half-time when an almighty scramble in the Portugal six-yard box ended with Ricardo in the back of the net and Mexico somehow still one goal behind after Marquez failed to hit the target.

After a low-key opening to the second period, Mexico were handed a penalty in the 58th minute after Miguel was deemed to have handled the ball but Omar Bravo smashed the spot-kick way over the bar.

Worse was to come for Mexico three minutes later when Luis Perez, who had already been booked, was sent off for diving. It was a harsh decision as Miguel appeared to have fouled Perez and it could easily have been a penalty for Mexico and Portugal reduced to ten men.

Undeterred, Mexico continued to hold the upper-hand and they were unlucky not to win another spot-kick in the 73rd minute when Paulo Ferreira appeared to foul Bravo only for the referee to wave away the appeals.

Fonseca twice went close to snatching an equaliser in the last few minutes but in the end it didn't matter as Angola's draw with Iran in Leipzig ensured both Mexico and Portugal finished in the top two in Group D.