Portugal beat Mexico 2-1

 

Portugal 2 (Maniche 6, Simao Sabrosa, penalty kick, 24) Mexico 1 (Jose Fonseca, 29)

 

 

GELSENKIRCHEN: Portugal beat Mexico 2-1 in a match decided by two penalties on Wednesday to go into the second round of the World Cup with full points from Group D.   

 

The Portuguese seemed to be cruising when they went 2-0 up thanks to a sixth minute goal by Maniche and a Simao Sabrosa penalty in the 24th.   

 

But Mexico pulled one back in the 29th minute through Jose Fonseca and missed a great chance to equalise when Omar Bravo blazed the ball over the bar from a penalty in the 57th.   

 

Four minutes later Luis Perez, booked in the first half, tried to get Mexico a second penalty but was shown a red card for diving.   

 

Portugal will play the runners-up in Group C, either Netherlands or Argentina, in Nuremberg on Sunday.

 

Fonseca Jose (Mexico) was named Man of the Match.

 

 

Portugal
Ricardo, Marco Caneira, Fernando Meira, Luis Figo (capt), Petit, Simao Sabrosa, Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Maniche, Tiago, Helder Postiga   
Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

 

 

Oswaldo Sanchez, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez (capt), Ricardo Osorio, Pavel Pardo, Gonzalo Pineda, Mario Mendez, Jose Fonseca, Omar Bravo, Francisco Rodriguez, Luis Perez   
Coach: Ricardo Lavolpe
Referee: Michel Lubos (Slovakia)