Mexico take the spoils - report

Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave Mexico a dream start to their World Cup campaign this morning, scoring the game's winning goal from the penalty spot to deny Croatia.

The two sides battled out a scrappy goalless first half in their World Cup Group G opener in Niigata.

Former Portsmouth man Robert Prosinecki had the first real chance of the match after just three minutes, but curled a free-kick over the Mexican crossbar from just outside the area.

Croatia went close again three minutes later, but Oscar Perez made an outstanding one-handed save to stop Josip Simunic’s header flying into the far corner.

Croatia continued to huff and puff, with Zvonimir Soldo curling a shot narrowly over after a clever header down from Simunic.

At the other end, Cuauhtemoc Blanco proved, as expected, to be Mexico’s star performer in the first half but his fancy touches failed to produce a clear-cut opening for his side.

The Valladolid playmaker thrilled the Mexican fans with his trademark, bunny-hop’ manoeuvre, in what proved the highlight of a scrappy opening half.

Jared Borgetti was inches away from connecting with Gabriel Caballero’s low cross midway through the half, but a toothless Mexican forward line struggled against Croatia’s resilient defence.

While happy to play the ball along their backline, it was clear the Mexico love nothing more than to attack.

And attack they did, as their flamboyant style contrasted perfectly with Croatia’s workmanlike, somewhat methodical tendencies.

Middlesbrough’s Alen Boksic, making his World Cup debut at the age of 32 after missing France 98 through injury, proved a handful for the physically inferior Mexican defence but his partnership with captain Davor Suker failed to bear fruit.

Instead the main Croatian threat came from the midfield with Niko Kovac and Soldo looking dangerous.

As the half wore on, and the blisteringly hot conditions came into play, Mexico upped the tempo but could find no way past Robert Kovac, Boris Zivkovic and Simunic.

Blanco could only head Ramon Morales’s corner straight at Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa while Borgetti stabbed wide from six yards after Morales miscued his shot.

Mexico smelled blood in the dying seconds but could not break the deadlock.

The Central American side looked livlier after the break and finally broke the deadlock on 60 minutes when Blanco powered home from the spot.

Croatia's Boris Zivjovic became the first sending off of the campaign for his foul.

Mexico looked well in control after their goal, and threatened the goal of 10-man Croatia on a number of occasions.