2010 World Cup Portugal v North Korea full time report
Portugal 7 North Korea 0
It was hardly a repeat of the 1966 World Cup match between the sides where Portugal came back from 3-0 down to win 5-3, but Portugal put on a classy second half performance to blow away a plucky North Korean side in Cape Town to put them in a fantastic position to qualify from Group G.
Goals from Raul Meireles, Simao, Hugo Almeida, Liedson, Ronaldo and two from Tiago put a shiny gloss on a score line which looked hard to predict at half time.
After a day of torrential rain in Cape Town, both sides failed to get to grips with the wet conditions early on with plenty of players losing their footing early on at crucial times.
Despite the early pressure from the Europeans, North Korea settled down as the match wore on and with striker Jong Ta Sea impressing once again, they created a couple of decent openings.
First the marauding right back Cha Jong-Hyok smashed a long range shot narrowly wide before Yong-Jo Hong stung the palms of Eduardo with an extravagant strike from the corner of the area.
The goal came against the run of play with 27 minutes gone, and it was the two Portugal centre midfielders’ that combined to great effect to score Carlos Quieroz’s side first goal of the tournament.
Former Chelsea midfielder Tiago played a wonderfully weighted pass through to Meireles who confidently stroked the ball into the net.
For the remainder of the half North Korea huffed and puffed in their opponents half, but the Portuguese backline stood strong.
With Group G being so tight, goal difference could be crucial, and Quieroz obviously had let his players know that at half time as they came out all guns blazing. Right from the start of the second period, Portugal looked hungry for goals, and by the 60 minute mark they were 4-0 to the good, with all three coming within seven minutes of each other.
Simao got the second half party started by finishing off a lovely team move. Meireles slipped the Athletico Madrid winger in down the right and he had the time and space to sweep the ball under the keeper’.
Hugo Almeida was the next to get in on the act. Alexandre Fabio Coentrao, the impressive left-back from Benfica, supplied the ammunition and Almeida had the simple task of heading the ball home from eight yards.
North Korea were now sinking without a trace, and Ronaldo started to enjoy himself, as he broke in behind the defence and set up Tiago, who stroked the ball into the corner.
From then on, it was damage limitation from the Korean’s. Ronaldo smashed a thirty yarder off the bar, whilst Simao, Almeria and Meireles really should have run up a cricket score in Portugal’s favour.
Substitute Liedson did finally get the fifth goal with one of his first touches. Duda swept the ball in from the left, and the defender made a hash of his clearance and Liedson fired home.
A sixth was just round the corner as Ronaldo finally grabbed his first of the tournament, as he profited from some suspect goalkeeping to tap into an empty net.
The seventh and final goal of an incredible second half was scored by Tiago.
Duda once again crossed from the left and Tiago had the simple task of heading home from three yards.
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