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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 14 - Group G Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Felipe Melo (Ramires 84), Elano (Daniel 73), Silva, Kaka (Nilmar 78), Luis Fabiano, Robinho. North Korea: Myong-Guk Ri, Jong-Hyok Cha, Jun-Il Ri, Kwang-Chon Ri, Chol-Jin Pak, Nam-C Pak, Yun-Nam Ji, In-Guk Mun (K-I Kim 80), Yong-Hak Ahn, Tae-Se Jong, Yong-Jo Hong. With the 2010 World Cup refusing to take flight all eyes turned to Brazil for some excitement and inspiration as they opened their campaign against the basically unknown minnows of North Korea. Anybody expecting the Brazilians to storm to an emphatic victory would be disappointed but the game itself was enjoyable enough with both sides playing some fine attacking football which, belatedly, resulted in three spectacular goals. Brazil obviously wanted to start with a swagger but the Koreans had the pace and diligence in defence to keep them mainly at arms length and most efforts on their goal came from optimistic distances during the first half. Robinho and Kaka were difficult to pin down as they drifted into spaces behind the front running Luis Fabiano while the attack was consistently supported down the flanks by the full backs Maicon and Michel Bastos. The best shooting opportunity of the half fell to Robinho but his shot was well wide from twenty yards when the goalkeeper must have been expecting some action. It was not all one way traffic as North Korea came forward with decent adventure when the opportunity arose and their front runner, Tae-Se Jong, certainly had the pace and determination to keep Lucio and Juan on their toes at all times. For all the pretty football, however, half time arrived without either keeper being properly tested. Half Time: Brazil 0 North Korea 0 There was clearly more intent from Brazil at the start of the second half and although they remained unable to fashion a clear chance inside the box they were carving bigger holes in the Korean defence and creating good opportunities to shoot around the edge of the area. Kaka went down easily to win his side a free kick twenty five yards out and Michel Bastos sent in a a fizzing drive that flashed wide before Robinho sent in a carbon copy in open play, again missing the far post by a yard or so. Ten minutes into the second half the opening goal duly arrived. Elano played Maicon in on the overlap and, with Myong-Guk Ri anticipating a centre, the full back lashed the ball through the narrowest of gaps at the keepers’ near post for a startling goal. Obviously this goal will be forever cherished as another example of Brazilian magic but I remain unconvinced. Just as likely to be another example of Brazilian scab in my opinion. Any slight doubts that might have been creeping into the Brazilians’ minds were banished with this strike, however, and they began to dominate increasingly against tiring opponents. Luis Fabiano, badly in need of a goal, blazed wildly over after an excellent first touch had given him an clear opportunity inside the box but Elano was composure itself as he strode onto Robinho’s superb defence splitting pass and stroked a measured finish across Ri into the far corner for a goal of undisputed class. There were still almost twenty minutes to go and the worry now was that a spirited display by the Koreans might end in a thumping anyway but to their great credit they continued to fight and gained their reward in the closing moments when Tae-Se Jong got up well to a long diagonal ball and headed inside to Yun-Nam Ji, bursting into the box, whose wonderful first touch took him completely clear of the defence before belting home an uncomplicated finish. Consolation goals are not usually much of a consolation but I think the North Koreans will treasure this goal for a long time and nobody could deny that they deserved it for their overall performance. There was also no denying Brazil their superiority or their three points, however. Full Time: Brazil 2 North Korea 1 Brazil Ratings: Julio Cesar 6, Maicon 7, Lucio 5, Juan 7, Michel Bastos 7, Felipe Melo 7, Elano 7 (Daniel 5), Silva 5, Kaka 7 (Nilmar 6), Luis Fabiano 5, Robinho 8. North Korea Ratings: Myong-Guk Ri 7, Jong-Hyok Cha 6, Jun-Il Ri 7, Kwang-Chon Ri 6, Chol-Jin Pak 6, Nam-C Pak 6, Yun-Nam Ji 7, In-Guk Mun 6, Yong-Hak Ahn 7, Tae-Se Jong 8, Yong-Jo Hong 5. Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary) 6 Good: Brazil’s second goal. Most attention will focus on the freakish first but this was the goal of real quality. Bad: Kaka The Great scamming free kicks against the mighty North Koreans. Call it professional if you want or something else if you don't. Ugly: Brazil’s male fans. Do all the good looking men in Brazil become women?
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