Mexico Downs Iran, 2-1, in Oakland to Open Iran's Visit to the U.S.

OAKLAND, Calif. (Sunday, January 9, 2000) - Mexico opened the scoring just three minutes into the match on a headed goal from five yards out by Luis Hernandez, who was set up with a free kick from just outside the left edge of the penalty area from Juan Pablo Rodriguez ... The second Mexican goal w

OAKLAND, Calif. (Sunday, January 9, 2000) - Mexico opened the scoring just three minutes into the match on a headed goal from five yards out by Luis Hernandez, who was set up with a free kick from just outside the left edge of the penalty area from Juan Pablo Rodriguez ... The second Mexican goal was a carbon copy of the first, but from the right side of the penalty area where Rodriguez this time found the head of Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who ran near post and flicked a looping shot to the back post over Iranian goalkeeper Hadi Tabatabe in the 18th minute ... Iran answered with a penalty- kick goal in the 26th minute from forward Ali Daei, who beat Mexican 'keeper Cristian Martinez with a shot to the lower left corner ... The Iranian penalty was set up when veteran Ramon Ramirez tripped up Iranian midfielder Esmaeil Halali dribbling into the right side of the penalty area ... Despite a kinetic second half, neither team was able to find the net again.

Iran vs. Mexico: FINAL GAME REPORT

Participants:	Iran vs. Mexico
Competition:	International Friendly
Venue:	Oakland Network Associates Coliseum (Oakland, Calif.)
Date:	January 9, 2000 - 2 p.m. PT kickoff
Attendance:	34,289
Weather:	62 degrees - Cool and Crisp

Scoring Summary:	1st	2nd	Final
Iran	1	0	1
Mexico	2	0	2

MEX - Luis Hernandez, (Juan Pablo Rodriguez), 3,
MEX - Cuauhtemoc Blanco, (Juan Pablo Rodriguez), 18,
IRN - Ali Daei (penalty kick), 26.

Lineups:
IRN - 1-Hadi Tabatabei, 3-Javad Zarinche (capt.), 4-Mohammad Khakpour (6-Siroos Dinmohammadi, 65), 5-Mehdi Hashemi-Nasab, 17-Alireza Emamifar, 8-Sattar Hamedani, 15-Esmaeil Halali (14-Mohammad Navazi, 85), 9-Hamid Estili (7-Mahmood Fekri), 2-Mehdi Mahdavikia, 10-Ali Daei, 11-Khodadad Azizi (16-Ali Mosavi, 70).

MEX - 1-Cristian Martinez, 2-Claudio Suarez (capt.), 7-Ramon Ramirez (4-Julio Estrada, 88), 3- Joaquin Beltran, 13-Mario Mendez, 5-Gerardo Torrado, 9-Emilio Mora (16-Alejandro Nava, 69), 8-Juan Pablo Rodriguez, 11-Daniel Osorno (6-Ignacio Hierro, 61), 15-Luis Hernandez, 10-Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Statistical Summary:	IRN	MEX
Shots . . . . . . . . . .	8	8
Saves . . . . . . . . . .	2	3
Corner Kicks . . . . .	4	1
Fouls . . . . . . . . . .	19	19
Offside . . . . . . . . .	1	3

Misconduct Summary:
IRN	Khodadad Azizi (caution)	21,
MEX	Claudio Suarez (caution)	28,
MEX	Gerrardo Torrado (caution)	40,
IRN	Mahmood Fekri (caution)	79.