North Korea Opens Up - Brazil vs North Korea (2:1)

Home: World Cup Finals: South Africa 2010: 1st Round: Match Schedule: Brazil vs North Korea

Tuesday, 15th June 2010
North Korea Opens Up

Brazil vs North Korea in Jo'burg Ellis Park.

North Korea make only their second appearance at the World Cup Finals, while Brazil have been an ever-present.

Although Brazil had most of the play in the first ten minutes, it was North Korea's Jong Tae-Se who had the only shot on target; after dribbling into the Brazilian penalty area from the right.

With five red shirts across the back, North Korea reduced Brazil's capabilities to a few shots from distance. And with Jabulani not yet a hit with the players, those shots were wide of the mark.

Robinho's snap-shot, in the 20th minute, was the first proper effort from Brazil; no real problem for a goalkeeper, unless you're in an England shirt.

Then in the 27th minute, something a little more testing from Maicon; forcing Ri Myong-Guk to punch the ball away for a corner.

Kaka finally woke up in the 35th minute with a slight jink down the left, but two Koreans closed the door on the edge of the penalty area and the Brazilian wasn't sharp enough to pick the lock.

So the eighth game (out 14) to go to the break without a goal, but this one is not that bad at all.

A courageous performance from North Korea in the middle of the field; closing it tight at the back but still prepared to send Jong Tae-Se out on a goal-hunting mission.

Half-time: 0:0

Kaka went down a little too easy on the edge of the area, in the 50th minute. Michel Bastos managed to keep the ball below the bar, but Jabulani chose to fly wide of the target.

Brazil finally cracked the North Korea nut in the 55th minute, when Maicon overlapped Elano on the right, ran almost to the touchline and struck the ball in such a way - with the outside of his foot - that it seemed to swerve; low, between the goalkeeper and the post.

Or was it a cross that slipped off Maicon's boot? Whatever, Brazil edge themselves in front.

When Brazil score one, they often score more. And so it was. Within 17 minutes, Elano skipped onto a perfect pass from Robinho and sidefooted Brazil's second past Ri Myong-Guk.

In the closing minutes of the game, while Robinho was firing blanks Jong Tae-Se wasn't giving up hope of getting a goal in every game. Juan denied the Kawasaki Frontale striker but Ji Yun-Nam made sure that at least North Korea might score in every game.

Final Score:
Brazil 2 North Korea 1

Goalscorers:
1:0 Maicon (55 mins)
2:0 Elano (72 mins)
2:1 Ji Yun-Nam (89 mins)

Man of The Match:
Elano - For sending Maicon down the right for the first goal and scoring the second. North Korea's Jong Tae-Se deserves an honourable mention.

Teams

Brazil:
1 J�lio C�sar; 6 Michel Bastos, 4 Juan, 3 L�cio, 2 Maicon; 11 Robinho, 5 Felipe Melo, 8 Gilberto Silva, 7 Elano; 9 Luis Fabiano, 10 Kak�.

North Korea:
1 Ri Myong-Guk; 3 Ri Jun-Il, 5 Ri Kwang-Chon, 13 Pak Chol-Jin, 2 Cha Jong-Hyok; 11 Mun In-Guk, 4 Pak Nam-Chol, 17 An Yong-Hak, 8 Ji Yun-Nam; 9 Jong Tae-Se, 10 Hong Yong-Jo.

Referee:
Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Substitutions:
73 Mins (Brazil) - 13 Daniel Alves on for 7 Elano
78 Mins (Brazil) - 21 Nilmar on for 10 Kak�
80 Mins (North Korea) - 6 Kim Kum-Il on for 11 Mun In-Guk
84 Mins (Brazil) - 18 Ramires on for 5 Felipe Melo