Cards’ Rackers gives Mexico a real kick in win

The league’s popularity was evident to visitors arriving at Azteca, where the number of fans wearing replica jerseys — more Dallas Cowboys than Niners or Cardinals — nearly outnumbered the hundreds of police and security officials ringing the stadium.

Only a few empty seats were visible in the upper deck of the famed soccer venue. Mexican fans showed they know football, cheering for surging ball-carriers and whistling at San Francisco’s poor offensive execution.

And when the game got a bit dull early in the second quarter, they did “La Ola” — the wave. When McCown made a spinning move to dodge a tackler in the fourth quarter, the fans shouted “Ole!”

“Fans around the world can take notice of the way these people are, their passion about the game,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. “It was exciting to play the game for both teams today, and they certainly latched on to the team that was ahead at the end, because early on, we had them on our side.”

After Joe Nedney’s opening kickoff sailed far out of the end zone, Bryant Young broke through the Arizona line and forced McCown’s fumble. Brandon Moore picked it up and rambled to the end zone, where he fumbled, as well — but Smith emerged from an end-zone scrum with the ball held aloft.

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos

The Cardinals drove 70 yards to the San Francisco 13 later in the quarter, but Marcel Shipp fumbled. Johnson, a rookie in the starting lineup after Mike Rumph’s season-ending foot injury Wednesday, picked it up on the bounce and ran for the score.

The Cardinals didn’t get into the end zone until a 69-yard drive in just 63 seconds, finishing with Fitzgerald’s acrobatic 17-yard catch in the corner of the end zone 6 seconds before halftime.

Notes: San Francisco QB Tim Rattay was pulled in the fourth quarter, and No. 1 pick Alex Smith went 6-for-10 — his first NFL completions — for 34 yards. “Obviously, I wasn’t happy about it,” Rattay said. “You don’t ever want to come out of a game, and I thought we still had a chance to win it.” ... Two-time MVP Kurt Warner was on the cover of the game programs, but Arizona’s veteran quarterback missed the game with a groin injury.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year