FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 – Portugal 7-0 North Korea
The challenge facing Portugal was to prosper where their well-heeled European rivals had failed. France, England and Italy could only muster a draw against a far more inferior opposition in Cape Town. Portugal galloped home in stunning style with almost making their progress into the next round a done deal. It will only take a calamity from here for them to not qualify for the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
44 years ago at Goodisson park in Merseyside, it was a heartbreak of a different kind for the North Koreans where after taking a 3-0 lead in the 25th minute, they were thunderstruck by Eusebio, who scored 4 goals during the night to help his country win a 5-3 thriller.
Tonight, it was not going to have a drama as Portugal came into the match with only one thing in mind and the poor Koreans had to bear the brunt of it. Ronaldo and company mesmerised the pitch as they piled on the agony on their Asian counterparts, hammering 7 goals past a hapless Korean goal-keeper.
The opening exchanges were somewhat positive for the only Asian side in the tournament as they even threatened to take the lead through the ‘Peoples Rooney’ – Jung Tae-se, but when his namesake has had a torrid time in South Africa 2010, how could Jung bask in glory.
The Portuguese got over their nerves and broke the shackles in the 29th minute when Tiago spotted a cunning run by midfielder Raul Meireles into the box with a slick defence-splitting-pass and the Atletico Madrid midfielder did not disappoint. From that moment on, it felt like the weight had been lifted off Portugal’s shoulders as they turned on the style.
Although the teams went into the break with the Europeans only leading by a slender one goal lead, it was the period immediately after the break that proved to be Korea’s undoing and ended their run at this year’s World Cup.
Portugal scored 3 goals in the space of seven minutes to end any lingering Korean hopes of causing a massive upset and with that dumping them out of the tournament, Simao was next on the score sheet as he slotted the ball under the legs of Guk to make it two nil. Then came Hugo Almeida with a beautiful header after being picked by Ronaldo from the wings, the cross was pin pointed and the header was sublime. And just a minute later, Tigao made it 4-0 with another slick finish.
Korea wished they never came out of the tunnel but Portugal weren’t done yet. Leidsen Bremen striker made it 5 on the night after a defensive mistake by a Korean left him with no choice but to score. Then came the Ronaldo moment, after hitting the bar with a thunderous shot from 25 yards, it seemed that his two year international drought is set to continue even with his team scoring so freely. However, lady luck was not to ditch him for two long as he was almost gifted a goal late in the game.
It was moment every fan in Cape town had been waiting for, after latching onto a long ball and turning past Guk as he was never there, Ronaldo used his back, neck and shoulder to bring the ball down to put the ball into a gaping net.
Statistically, this was Korea’s biggest defeat in international football. For Portugal, it was the best.
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