Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe believes his team can make an impression on the World Cup finals if they can maintain the impressive form they showed in the second half of the 3-1 win over Iran.

La Volpe's team were second best for most of the first half and the sides went into half-time level at 1-1, but an improved showing in the second 45 minutes saw the Mexicans strike twice to claim a 3-1 win in Nurnberg's Franken-Stadion.

"If Mexico plays like we did in the second half we will do well," said the Argentinian.

"We played an excellent game in the second half. We were good in possession and were capable of reaching Iran's goal plus we had a good defensive line. But we need to have that for 90 minutes and not just for 45 minutes like we did today."

Omar Bravo gave Mexico the lead in the 28th minute after the Central Americans were forced to keep Iran at bay as they dominated in midfield through Javad Nekounam, Andranik Teymourian and Mehdi Mahdavikia.

Vahid Hashemian saw his downward header in the 11th minute well saved by Oswaldo Sanchez - who had returned to the team the day before after returning to Mexico to attend his father's funeral - before Bravo struck from close range after Guillermo Franco steered Gerardo Torrado's free-kick into his path.

The Iranians, however, claimed a deserved equaliser eight minutes later when veteran central defender Yahya Golmohammadi fired into the roof of Sanchez's net after Rahman Rezaei had headed Mahdavikia's corner against the Mexican goalkeeper.

After an impressive opening 45 minutes from Branko Ivankovic's side, the second period was little short of a letdown for the Iranians as Mexico took control.

However, it was a defensive error that cost Iran.

A poor clearance by Ebrahim Mirzapour put his back line under pressure 14 minutes from time and then a horrendous mis-kick by Rezaei handed possession to second-half substitute Zinha on the edge of the penalty area.

The Brazil-born midfield slid the ball through to Bravo, who made no mistake with his low curling finish.

Three minutes later Zinha rose unmarked in the Iran penalty area to head past Mirzapour to give Mexico an all-important win in their opening game of the finals.

"In the first game everyone is nervous," said La Volpe.

"It was very difficult to get into the rhythm of the competition in the first 45 minutes for all of the players.

"In the second half we had more possibilities, more ideas and more precision in the play and I think that's why Mexico won the game."

Iran coach Ivankovic was left to rue his team's poor second-half performance after impressing in the opening 45 minutes.

"We had the chance to do something today, especially in the first half," said the Croatian.

"We played very well and in the first half maybe we could have scored more than one goal.

"In the second half we were not so good, especially in the first half of the second half. We conceded one goal with a terrible mistake by our defensive line.

"Of course, after that it was much harder for us because the Mexico team is a big team with more experience than us and they know how to keep this result under control."