North Korea were dubbed the ‘whipping boys’ of Group G when the World Cup draw was made, and although they knocked that on the head with a good performance in their 2-1 defeat to Brazil, their lack of experience shone against Portugal today.
The Portuguese ran riot in a seven goal thriller despite a fairly evenly contested first half. Meireles scored the only goal of that half for Portugal and North Korea were still holding up, but in the second forty-five everything went to pieces for them.
Simao, Almeida, Silva Muniz, Ronaldo and Tiago all got on the scoresheet with Tiago bagging a brace as Portugal cruised to a 7-0 victory. The goals game in clusters, with three scored seven minutes before the hour mark and another three added in the final ten, as Korea sank without a trace.
Hopes had been surprisingly high for the outsiders but they now stand little chance of doing anything.
Yesterday, in the groups other game, Brazil outclassed the Ivory Coast in a 3-1 victory. They ended the game with ten men when Kaka saw red but they are on their way to the next round as expected.
Things are certainly heating up now and the goals, as expected, are flying.
