South Africa 2010: Maicon scores a masterpiece as Brazil edges North Korea in 2-1 defeat.
Douglas Maicon
Douglas Maicon produced a moment of pure Brazilian magic to set the five-time champions on their way to victory in their opening game against North Korea in Johannesburg.
The Brazilians, ranked number one in the Fifa rankings, were expected to cruise past the team in 105th place in their Group G encounter.
But on a difficult evening they had to wait until the 55th minute to break the deadlock as the North Koreans proved more than capable opponents.
It fell to right-back Maicon to settle Brazil’s nerves with a goal of typical beauty.
Latching on to a pass down the right from Elano but at a seemingly impossible angle trapped against the byeline, he produced a swerving screamer that bent in with goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk standing a fraction too far off his post.
The goal composed Dunga’s previously erratic side and they doubled the lead with 18 minutes left when Elano Robinho slid a fabulous pass in for Elano to slot home from inside the area.
Celebration time.
But North Korea gave them a much harder game than they were expecting and Kim Jong-Hun’s side got a goal their endeavour deserved when Ji Yun-nam fired in superbly in the closing stages.
Brazil deserved the victory for their dominance in possession, especially in the second half, but North Korea’s previously unknown players can hold their heads high after a display full of passion and no little skill either.
In fact, playing their in their first World Cup since 1966, the Chollima – before they tired after the break – threatened to cause an almighty upset.
With star striker Jong Tae-se – who cried during their national anthem – leading the line magnificently, they were giving Brazil as good as they got in a first half that swung from end to end in hugely entertaining fashion.
-nam’s brilliant first touch controlled a high ball and took him into space in the Brazil box and he made no mistake with an unerring finish past Julio Cesar.
There was no time for them to conjure the most unlikely of all equalisers, but their heroic display finally brought the World Cup to life and warmed the hearts of the crowd on a freezing night at Ellis Park.
In the other earlier encounter between Ivory Coast and Portugal, the Ivorian Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson summed it all up when he said there were few chances on goal because neither team wanted to lose. It was a game where caution deprive both sides convincing chances to score.
North Korea Celebrating its goal
The World Cup Group G rivals played out a turgid stalemate, with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo going closest when his shot hit the post early on.
“There weren’t many occasions to score,” said Eriksson.
“You saw two teams who didn’t want to lose. I thought if one team had won it should have been us.”
The 62-year-old former England coach added: “I was very happy with our discipline and organisation, we were organised for 90 minutes, in the past it wasn’t like that.”
Drogba delighted to be part of ‘amazing’ World Cup
Eriksson opted to begin with key striker Didier Drogba on the bench before bringing the Chelsea star on for club-mate Salomon Kalou in the 65th minute.
Drogba had broken his arm in a friendly against Japan on 4 June but had recovered sufficiently to be available for the Ivorians’ opening game, although world football governing body Fifa had to give the Chelsea striker clearance to play with a cast.
The Swedish coach added: “Another plus was Didier coming on to play. He’ll be even fitter for the next game.
“However, I had been hoping the team would score a couple of goals so that he didn’t have to play against Portugal.”
Drogba stressed that there was little danger of him aggravating his injury during the match
Source: BBC Sports.
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