Portugal hit North Korea for seven
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Superior-looking Portugal sent DPR Korea packed with a comfortable 7-0 whitewash in their World Cup Group G match here on Monday.
DPR Korea became the second team eliminated from the 2010 World Cup finals, following Cameroon. And so far, it was the biggest win in the ongoing tournament in South Africa.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said,"It is a great day for Portugal, three points, many goals, concentration and motivation, I have great satisfaction."
"We make changes in the lineup and it works," he noted. "But We have to be very ambitious for the next match (against Brazil)."
Queiroz also said that DPR Korea played quite well in the first half and they are still a respectful team.
Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles opened the scoring in the 29th minute when he received a perfect throughball into the right channel and finished, first time, beyond the advancing keeper Ri Myong Guk.
After four minutes, a casual defending by Pak Chol Jin, who kicked the ball onto a teammate in the box, made the ball deflect straight to Meireles, but the goalscorer fired wide.
From 53rd to 60th minute, Portugal made a hat-trick. It was 2-0 as Simao finished a silky move. Meireles put a lovely pass into the path of forward Simao, who calmly sidefooted it under the keeper.
It was 3-0 as Hugo Almeida dashed into the box and scored with a close range header from Fabio Coentrao's perfect cross from the left.
It was 4-0 when Cristiano Ronaldo burst into space on the left and waited for the run of Tiago, before setting him up to side foot home from the edge of the box.
The 81st to 89th minute saw another hat-trick for Portugal. It was 5-0 when a low cross fortuitously fell at the feet of the substitute Liedson, who scored from close range.
It was 6-0 when Ronaldo ended his drought. Fortunate goal after the ball bounced up off the keeper and rolled off the top of his head, before the Real Madrid man tapped in.
It was 7-0 when Tiago scored again from Coentrao's cross.
DPR Korea coach Kim Jong Hun said after the game that he himself will take all responsibility for the loss.
"Our opponents' attacking was so good that our players were nervous, especially after conceding the first goal," he added.
DPR Korea did not defend around their box all the time. Instead, they attacked and exerted pressure on their opponents.
On 15 minutes, Jong Tae Se received a throughball but couldn't quite stop the Jabulani from skidding off the surface. If he could have controlled that Portugal would have been trouble.
Another great effort for DPR Korea appeared in the 18th minute when skipper Hong Yong Jo surprised Eduardo with an early shot from the right side of the box. The rebound was headed just over.
But in the second half, they collapsed.
In their first group matches, Portugal tied Cote d'Ivoire 0-0, and DPR Korea lost to Brazil 2-1.
Brazil beat Cote d'Ivoire 3-1 last night to book a berth in last 16 with two wins and three- goal advantage.
On 15 minutes, Jong Tae Se received a throughball but couldn't quite stop the Jabulani from skidding off the surface. If he could have controlled that Portugal would have been trouble.
Another great effort for DPR Korea appeared in the 18th minute when skipper Hong Yong Jo surprised Eduardo with an early shot from the right side of the box. The rebound was headed just over.
But in the second half, they collapsed.
In their first group matches, Portugal tied Cote d'Ivoire 0-0, and DPR Korea lost to Brazil 2-1.
Brazil beat Cote d'Ivoire 3-1 last night to book a berth in last 16 with two wins and three- goal advantage.
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