Portugal Sail to Group D Top Spot With 2-1 Win Over Mexico

The results leave Portugal top with nine points, Mexico second with four, Angola third with two and Iran bottom with one.

Portugal took to the field in Gelsenkirchen without some of their top names, including Deco, Christiano Ronaldo and Pauletta who were all rested because they had picked up yellow cards in the opening phase of the competition.

But the Portuguese got off to a dream start. Just six minutes into the game, Maniche supplied Simao Sabrosa, who made a great run on the left and passed back to Maniche who struck home from close range.

Portugal then increased their lead after 24 minutes when Mexico's captain Rafael Marquez handled the ball in the area. Winger Simao stepped up to blast the ball past Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and Portugal were in control of the game.

Mexico knew they needed a draw to be absolutely sure of qualifying for the next round and pulled one back five minutes later when Man of the Match Fonseca headed home from a Pavel Pardo corner. Fonseca nearly drew the sides level six minutes before the break when he latched on the end of an Omar Branco cross, but his header went just wide of the post.

Portugal battles Ten-Men Mexico

After the break, Mexico kept up the pressure, with Fonseca involved in most of the action. On 56 minutes Bravo got on the end of a Pardo cross and slid the ball to Fonseca but the shot was too weak to get past Ricardo.

Just a minute later Mexico had their best chance to level the game when they were awarded a penalty after Miguel handled the ball in the box. But Bravo blasted the ball high into the crowd.

Things then went from bad to worse for Mexico when Luis Perez was sent off in the 61st minute for a second yellow card after he was judged to have dived in the box in search of a penalty.

Down to ten men, Mexico kept up the pressure for the remaining half hour and Bravo's miserable afternoon continued as he raced into the box in the 64th minute and then blasted the ball into the stand from 12 meters out.

Try as they might Mexico simply couldn't find the back of the net and as news came in from Leipzig that Angola were being held to a draw, the Mexicans switched down a gear.

All in all, an entertaining match and now both sides can look forward to a mouth-watering next round game against either the Netherlands or on form Argentina.

It was a 10th successive victory for Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup glory four years ago with seven straight wins.

"Ten wins in the World Cup is the kind of thing that would mark anybody's life, especially mine," the Brazilian said.

Iran hold Angola to draw to end World Cup dreams

In the group's other game, Iran dominated the first half against Angola who needed a win and help from Portugal to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

Angola took the lead in the 60th minute through Flavio and with Portugal ahead against Mexico only goal difference separated them from a place in the round of the last sixteen.

But Iranian defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh headed firmly home in the 75th minute to seal the draw and end Angola's hopes.