Budweiser Man of the Match: Omar Bravo (MEX)

11 June 2006

Omar Bravo was named Budweiser Man of the Match after leading Mexico to a soaring start to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, scoring two goals in his team's 3-1 defeat of Iran.

Bravo's first goal came in the 28th minute when Pavel Pardo delivered an outswinging free-kick that Guillermo Franco headed down for Bravo to finish at the far post. With the score tied at 1-1 in the 76th minute, Bravo was once again on target after Iran lost possession just outside their own penalty area. Zinha provided the through-ball and Bravo finished from close range.

"He scored two goals and played all 90 minutes," said FIFA Technical Study Group member Francisco Maturana. "In an even match, he solved the problems for Mexico. There is no doubt that a worker like him would be the Budweiser Man of the Match. There weren't any exquisitive performances on the pitch but Bravo added the quality and the goals that Mexico needed to take the win and the three points."