Brazil 2-1 North Korea
Robinho glides past North Korea's Pak Nam-chol
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Tuesday, 15, Jun 2010 09:18
By Matt Hallam.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil were made to toil as they overcame a determined and organised North Korea side in their group G game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The meeting was billed as one of the biggest mis-matches in World Cup history as the five-time winners Brazil took on Kim Jong-Hun's side, ranked 105 in the world.
However North Korea were not overawed by their opponents in their first appearance in a World Cup finals since 1966 and went in at half-time level with their highly ranked opponents.
They were unable to stem the relentless Brazilian tide in the second-half though with Maicon scoring a spectacular opening goal with a swerving shot come cross from a tight angle.
Elano then made things more comfortable after being played through by Robinho who excelled for Dunga's side.
North Korea pulled a late goal back through Ji Yun-Nam but Brazil saw out the final minute to go top of group G.
Brazil looked composed from the outset and enjoyed the majority of the possession. However they struggled to break past their opponent's five-man defence and it was the Koreans who recorded the first shot on target with Jong Tae-Se driving into the box from the right and firing a low shot straight at Julio Cesar.
North Korea continued to defend deep and forced Brazil to shoot from distance with Maicon hitting a swerving effort which was well saved by Myong Guk-Ri at his near post before Michel Bastos saw his effort deflected narrowly over the bar.
Brazil continued to press forward as they desperately tried to get behind the Koreans' defence, however they couldn't work the time or space to create a clear opportunity and the teams went in on level terms at half-time.
Dunga's side emerged for the second-half looking energised and took the lead courtesy of Maicon who ran onto Kaka's perfectly weighted pass and managed to find the net from the acutest of angles on the right with the ball swerving inside the near post.
Robinho then set up Brazil's second with a defence splitting pass for Elano to side foot into the corner of the net.
North Korea stunned their opponents in the closing stages though as they pulled a goal back on a rare raid forward with Yun-Nam firing an assured finish past Cesar. The goal made for a nervous finish but Brazil saw out the final minutes to start their campaign with a victory.