Mexico not as dominant as 3-1 score would indicate

	Mexico was struggling to muster any offense before Omar Bravo (above) struck in the 76th minute for the second of his two goals. AP
	MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Luis. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

It was as unconvincing as a 3-1 World Cup victory can be.

For most of Sunday's game against Iran, Mexico looked anything but foreboding. El Tricolor's attack was virtually nonexistent and the Iranians looked poised to escape with a draw.

It took a defensive miscue to get Mexico back on track. Iranian defender Rahman Rezaei could not handle a loose ball just outside the penalty area in the 76th minute. Zinha pounced on it and fed Omar Bravo, who buried it in the back of the net.

In that five-second span, Mexico awoke. Zinha scored three minutes later as Mexico made the score line look attractive.

Still, Mexico must not be overconfident. For all the positives a two-goal win to open the World Cup can bring, Mexico showed in large stretches that much work needs to be done.

Mexico's attack sleepwalked through the first half. It was uncreative, unimaginative and lacking any spark. As can be expected with this Mexican team, the only early offense came from a well-executed set piece. Guillermo Franco flicked on a free kick sent in the box by Pavel Pardo. Alone on the far post, Bravo knocked the ball in the goal.

Aside from that, however, there was little in the first 45 minutes to feel confident about. Jared Borgetti was invisible and utterly useless. Bravo too did little work outside of his goal. Mexico failed to generate any buildup from the middle of the field and relied too much on balls played from the back.

Ricardo Lavolpe made some head-scratching decisions in his starting lineup. Throughout Mexico's long training camp, it appeared either Luis Pérez or Zinha would start as an attacking midfielder with Pardo playing behind them. Instead, Gerardo Torrado started alongside Pardo in the defensive midfield. Franco had the bulk of the offensive responsibilities and both Pérez and Zinha started on the bench.

Mario Méndez also got the nod over José Antonio "Gringo" Castro on the right flank despite Castro's quality form of late. Méndez was nonexistent and Mexico had little quality service from the right flank throughout the match. He justified his inclusion in the starting lineup with a nifty cross that led to the third goal.

Lavolpe apparently realized his mistake at halftime and inserted both Pérez and Zinha. Torrado, who had picked up a yellow card in the first half, was wisely taken out, as was Franco. Borgetti asked out minutes later, forcing Lavolpe to make a striker-for-striker swap and send Francisco "Kikin" Fonseca on the field. Just seven minutes into the second half, Lavolpe had used all three of his substitutes.

Zinha and Pérez added some life to Mexico's moribund offense, but without Rezaei's gaffe and Mexico's surging wave of confidence afterward, the game could easily have finished in a draw.