By The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) – A look at Day 3 of the 2006 World Cup on Sunday:

RESULTS

Netherlands 1, Serbia-Montenegro 0

Mexico 3, Iran 1

Portugal 1, Angola 0

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HIGHLIGHTS

– Forward Arjen Robben scored on a breakaway in the first half to lead the Netherlands past Serbia-Montenegro in the first Dutch appearance in the World Cup since losing the third-place game in 1998.

– Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, who had to fly home on Thursday after his father died, started against Iran and helped his team to a 3-1 victory. After the final whistle, the Mexican team rushed to hug Sanchez, who rejoined them Saturday night. Sanchez was given flowers and condolences from the Iranian team before the match.

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STARS

– Omar Bravo, Mexico, became the third player in the tournament to score twice in his team’s opening match in a 3-1 for victory for “El Tri” over Iran.

– Pauleta, Portugal, scored the game’s only goal in the fourth minute as the Portuguese won their opening match 1-0 over Angola.

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HISTORY

The Netherlands won a World Cup game 1-0 for the first time on Sunday. Arjen Robben scored in the 18th minute and Edwin van der Sar had a shutout in goal for the Dutch, who had never won in the World Cup without scoring at least two goals, dating back to their first World Cup win – a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the group stage in 1974.

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GOAL OF THE DAY

In the 18th minute, Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel sent a long, high pass to Robin van Persie near midfield, and the winger delicately lobbed it over the defense toward Arjen Robben. Robben outraced the defense, caught up to the ball, and coolly slipped it under Serbia-Montenegro goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric on a breakaway in Sunday’s 1-0 win for the Netherlands.

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LOOKAHEAD

The United States opens World Cup play against the Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany . In 2002, the Americans stunned highly touted Portugal with a three-goal outburst in the first half, and held on to win 3-2. Back in 1990, when the U.S. team was making its first World Cup appearance in 40 years, the Americans were routed 5-1 by Czechoslovakia in their opener. Coach Bruce Arena has kept the starting lineup a secret from those outside the team, while several key players for the Czechs are recovering from a variety of injuries.

The other two teams in Group E, Ghana and Italy, meet in Hanover on Monday. The Italians will try to distance themselves from a scandal that’s currently rocking their federation back home.

Australia returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when it faces Japan at Kaiserslautern. Australia qualified through the Oceania-South America playoff, but has since switched to the Asian confederation, where it will compete with Japan in continental tournaments for years to come.

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QUOTABLE

“It was my dad’s dream for me to be here, playing in the World Cup, and I am happy.” – Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, through a translator, after playing in the World Cup one day after returning to Germany from Mexico, where he attended the funeral of his father, who died suddenly last week.

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“I don’t see any logic starting an opener at the World Cup with such a closed formation. If we attacked them from the start, we could have scored. We also might have lost by several goals, but at least it wouldn’t be in such a cowardly fashion.” – Serbian midfielder Ognjen Koroman, criticizing coach Ilija Petkovic after a 1-0 loss to the Netherlands.

AP-ES-06-11-06 1806EDT