4/6/2007 - 13:32(EST)

Mexico cruises past Iran

Mexico had no problems and crushed Iran on Saturday in their friendly, which was Nery Castillo debut.

02/JUN/2007 – Jared Borgetti in the 95 second, Jaime Lozano in the 27 min, Francisco Fonseca in the 81 min, and Gerardo Torrado in the 84 min scored for Mexico, which is 4 – 1 under coach Hugo Sanchez. The Aztecs lost against the U.S., and then beat Venezuela, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

Castillo, of Greek side Olympiakos, has been recruited by Mexican officials for four years, but this was his debut for the “Tri”. His debut came in a city 400 km north of the capital, city where was born 22 years ago.

“I am very happy having debuted. I want to thank every one for their support. We did what we were supposed to do, a good game, with good soccer. WE are on the right track”, stated Castillo.

This was the second to last preparation game for Mexico, which will play Paraguay in the Azteca Stadium next Tuesday before traveling to New Jersey, where they will make their Gold Cup debut against Cuba June 8th.

Castillo participated in the first goal when he shot a hard shot inside the box that was saved by keeper Seyed Rahmati, but the ball was left loose in the box. Lozano picked up the rebound and shot the ball, but his shot was also saved. Borgetti just pushed in the loose ball.

That was Borgetti’s 41st goal with the national team, which consolidated himself as the team’s all-time leading scorer.

The game had very few chances on either goal after the first goal. The away team even dominated the match for a little bit. Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa deflected a shot by Feredooy Sandi out of bounds for a corner kick.

Mexico struck again in the 27th min when Fernando Arce went down the left side of the field and sent a cross on the floor to the heart of the box, where Lozano slid and put the ball in the goal for the 2 – 0 lead.

Borgetti let a golden opportunity escape when he shot a ball inside the six yard box at the end of the first half.

In the second half Mexico started slow, but they dominated the tired Iranian side in the last 15 minutes of the game.

Andres Guardado, who ran down the left side of the pitch and he left behind two defenders as he was entering the 18 yard box, sent a precise cross to a streaking “Kikin”, who struck the ball solidly with his head for the 3 – 0 lead.

Torrado, who had a nice give and go play with Castillo, blasted a shot past the diving goalkeeper for the last score of the game.

Terra/AP