Second half delights La Volpe
11 Jun 2006 - 20:23:56
Coach Ricardo La Volpe was thrilled by Mexico's second-half display as they opened their World Cup finals campaign with a 3-1 win against Iran in Nuremberg on Sunday.
The entertaining Group D encounter was level at 1-1 at the interval, after Omar Bravo's 28th-minute tap-in was cancelled out by a Yahya Golmohammadi strike for Iran.
However, Mexico were the better side after the break and deservedly secured the points thanks to two goals in four minutes, with man of the match Bravo grabbing his second of the game and substitute Zinha also finding the target.
"The crowd motivated us, gave us more incentive, and I believe in the second half they got behind us more and for that reason we won," said La Volpe.
"In the second half, I believe the team started to loosen up, play better touch football. Before then they were a bit nervous.
"We have to keep working, correct some mistakes from the first half, but what gives us most satisfaction are the three points."