WORLD CUP ROUNDUP \ Wednesday's games

Portugal 2, Mexico 1
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany -- Luiz Felipe Scolari's makeshift Portugal team, featuring five backups, finished a sweep of its opening round games. Scolari extended his World Cup record of consecutive coaching victories to 10, seven with Brazil in 2002 and three here. Mexico, coming off a win and a draw, missed a penalty kick and played the last 30 minutes with 10 men. But its door to the knockout round opened when Angola drew with Iran. Mexico has advanced in the last four World Cups. Portugal will play the Netherlands in the second round. Mexico gets Argentina. Portugal won on goals by Maniche and Simao Sabrosa in the first 25 minutes, and Kikin replied by heading in a corner kick to put Mexico back in the game before halftime. But then Mexico's Omar Bravo missed a chance to tie on a second-half penalty kick that soared over the net.
Argentina 0, Netherlands 0
FRANKFURT, Germany -- In his debut as a World Cup starter, Lionel Messi did everything but give Argentina victory. It didn't matter. The Argentines confirmed their role as title contenders. Fielding four second-string players, Argentina showed its depth. The Dutch were less impressive. As soon as the 18-year-old Messi got going, there was little doubt who was running the show for Argentina. During the 69 minutes he played, he set up chances for teammates, tested the inexperienced Dutch defense himself, and showed skills precious few players possess. All that time, Dutch winger Arjen Robben, the team's star in its first two games, was on the bench, saving his strength for the second round. The Dutch sat five starters for the game, the Argentines four as both teams were already sure to advance.
Iran 1, Angola 1
LEIPZIG, Germany -- Angola's first World Cup goal wasn't nearly enough to send the Black Antelopes into the second round of the tournament. Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh scored the tying goal in the 75th minute for Iran. Substitute Flavio gave Angola its first goal of the tournament when he broke free from Kaabi Hossein in the penalty box to head a cross from Ze Kalanga over goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour and into the net.
Ivory Coast 3, Serbia-Montenegro 2
MUNICH, Germany -- Another 2-0 deficit wasn't enough to stop orange-clad Ivory Coast from stomping away in its elephant dance. Taking advantage of two handballs by Milan Dudic that led to goals, Ivory Coast beat Serbia-Montenegro on Bonaventure Kalou's penalty shot in the 86th minute. Aruna Dindane scored the Elephants' other two goals in a game as thrilling as it was sloppy, with thunder and lightning over head and explosive play by two teams that had already been eliminated.
Associated Press
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