BRAZIL 2-1 SOUTH KOREA FIFA WORLD CUP 2010
It was the biggest mismatch in the history of the World cup when five times world champions Brazil took on North Korea, a country making only its second appearance at the World Cup, at the Ellis Park in Johannesburg. 104 places, 5 winners medals and a whole generation’s gap in the skills separated the two teams that faced each other on the night – yet it was a brave display of courage, determination, motivation and will on the part of the Koreans to stand up and look their illustrious opponents eye to eye and in the end they came out of the tie with their heads held high.
Brazil’s attack boasted the like of Luis Fabiano, Robinho, and Kaka while Korea depended on ‘The People’s Ronney’ Jung Tae-se for their attacking impetus and despite the world of difference between the skills and trickery, the Korean came out of the tie with his reputation enhanced.
It took a moment of pure Brazilian magic in the 55th minute when Inter Milan’s Champions League winning right-back slotted a curler past Guk from nearly an impossible angle, the goal was reminiscent of Christian Vieri’s goal against Sampdoria a few years ago but this one was scored at the World cup.
On a difficult evening the North Koreans proved to be more than a match for the South Americans and the favourites had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock and that too courtesy of one piece of sublime individual skill.
Team Brazil employs a world class player at every position on the pitch and the unlikely hero on the night was Maicon when he scored a goal of typical beauty.
Elano picked up a perfectly timed run by the wing back into the box and Maicon, trapped against the byline produced a swerving screamer from a seemingly impossible angle that bent in behind the Korean keeper, who had perhaps a little too much room behind him.
The goal seemed to galvanize the previously erratic Brazil and they upped the ante after that and were rewarded with a second goal soon after when Robinho picked up another perfectly timed run, this time by Elano, who side footed the ball into the goal with majestic ease.
Brazil deserved the victory for all their dominance and possession but North Korea gave then a much harder game than they were expecting and got a goal their endeavour deserved when Ji Yun-nam fired in superbly in the closing stages.
Indeed at times there was a feeling that the minnows from Asia could cause an almighty upset but Maicon’s devilish drifter put paid to the idea and after the goal. Brazil totally controlled the game.
Elano, Robinho and Bastos all sprayed the Korean goal with wayward shots throughout the game but it was the attacking intent of the Koreans that was made clear to all and sundry that they have not come to the world cup just to defend.
Striker Luis Fabiano came into the game not having scored in his six previous outing and his last international goal came against Argentina in September 09 and continued his barren run after the match as he was largely anonymous all throughout the game.
Brazil got a little scare towards the end of the match when Ji superbly controlled the ball on his chest and after making space in the box, made no mistake and finished with an unerring shot.
But it was too little too late as there was no time for them to conjure another goal, but their heroic display brought the world cup to life and warmed the hearts of millions across the world on a freezing night in South Africa.
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