Hi folks! Welcome to our live updates between Portugal and North Korea. Brazil's qualification into the knockout stages, leaves Ivory Coast, North Korea and Portugal to fight for second postition. Group G -a.k.a the group of death- have quality players and fans would be disappointed to watch any of these teams plummet out of the tournatment.
North Korea's coach Kim Jong Hun believes that the footballing minnows can spring a major shock and qualify from the Group of Death. However, Portugal's boss, Carlos Queiroz knows that they can't afford to even draw today's game as their next encounter is against latin American giants Brazil.
North Korea is billed as the mystery team in South Africa. In the 1966 World Cup quaterfinals the two teams met and Portuguese were surprised by a 3-0 lead from the North Koreans. However, then captain and football legend Eusebio stole back the game by scoring 4 goals for the Portuguese. Can Cristiano Ronaldo perform a miraculous feat like Eusebio's?
The Real Madrid star will have to do most of the dribbling and passing as his teammate Deco is out due to a left-hip injury.
The teams walk out of the tunnel and the players now sing their national anthems shoulder to shoulder.
The squads:
Portugal:
1-Eduardo, 2-Bruno Alves, 6-Ricardo Carvalho, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo (C), 8-Pedro Mendes, 11-Simao, 13-Miguel, 16-Raul Meireles, 18-Hugo Almeida, 19-Tiago, 23-Fabio Coentrao
DPR Korea:
1-Myong-Guk Ri, 2-Cha Jong-Hyok, 3-Ri Jun-Il, 5-Ri Kwang-Chon, 13-Pak Chol-Jin, 4-Pak Nam-Chol, 8-Ji Yun-Nam, 11-Mun In-Guk, 17-Ahn Yong-Hak, 9 -Jong Tae-Se, 10-Hong Yong-Jo Captain
1st minute: The match kicks off with Portugal taking an attacking stance. Coentrao dribbles past a defender and passes it off to Ronaldo who is a little late to reach it.
3rd minute: 1st attempt at goal. A deflection from the defence and a simple save for the goalie. Looks like Ronaldo is on fire!
5th minute: Portugal counter-attacks. It's a perfect centre to Carvalho by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Chelsea defender sees his effort go off target.
7th minute: A corner for Portugal. And it is Carvalho again. His header rattles the crossbar. A golden chance, where was Myong-Guk Ri?
10th minute: This time it is the Koreans on the attack and it is right-back Cha Jong-Hyok who sees an effort go off target from outside the area. It's a bright start to the game as both teams are looking to play attacking football.
14th minute: Lovely stuff from DPR Korea. Jong Tae-Se tries to control a pass inside the Portugal area, but just cannot convert the ball in. A fascinating evening at Capetown.
18th minute: The players are struggling to cope with the wet conditions. Another terrific move by the North Koreans. Hong Yong-Jo shoots but Eduardo parries it away. The ball comes straight back at Mun In-Guk, but he heads the rebound over.
22nd minute: Both teams are displaying quality football. The game is fast-moving and the players are taking confident long-range shots; keeping both goalkeepers busy.
27th minute: North Korea are proving their mysterious assets as Portugal are struggling to outplay the minnows.
29th minute: A wonderful through ball by Tiago to Meireles. Meireles receives it on the first-touch and takes the shot. A fabulous goal! Amidst the entire North Korean defence Raul Meireles puts Portugal in the lead.It will be interesting to see how North Korea will react to that goal.
33rd minute: Pak Chol-Jin is booked for commiting a needless foul. of the game for North Korea. They look a little shaken by the goal.
35th minute: The portuguese seem to be taking control of the game. It is another chance for Raul Meireles. He sees his shot go off target. Portugal's movement passing and build-up is gorgeous.
37th minute: Pedro Mendes is penalised for commiting a foul just outside the box. He is given the yellow card. It is a great chance for North Korea to score.
Hong Yong-Jo smashes it into the wall. It is Ricardo Carvalho who blocks it with his face. He's all over the place today.
43rd minute: Coentrao whips in a dangerous cross. Almeida tries to heel into the goal but is unable to connect. The rain is lashing down onto the field, here at Cape town.
45+1: Portugal are hot on target at the moment. Simao dribbles along the right flank, and puts a ball in. A little too high for Hugo Almeida.
The referees whistle brings the first half to an end. Portugal's injured Deco must be glad to have watched substitute, Tiago, provide the assist that created the goal.
Even though North Korea might be a goal down, they have impressed spectators and silenced critics in this World Cup. Their best chance was in the 18th minute when goalkeeper Eduardo could not hold on to a fierce shot from Hong Yong Jo. Can North Korea do what Eusebio's side did to them in 1966. Can they come back from this deficit? Or will Portugal increase their lead? The fans are waiting for Ronaldo to step up and weave his magic.
The Portuguese players are coming out of the tunnel for the second half. Unity seems a vital factor for the North Koreans as they form a huddle before the referee's whistle.
46th minute: Cristiano Ronaldo runs down the right flank and passes to Tiago who launches a shot at goal. Myong-Guk Ri pulls off a save.
49th minute: Jong Tae-Se leans into Carvalho and wins a foul in a dangerous position. A flat and hard free-kick by Jong Tae-Se is comfortably saved by Eduardo.
52nd minute: Portugal are still blazing. Another good build-up by Ronaldo and Coentrao and a low cross into the box. But Tiago's shot wide.
54th minute: Hugo Almeida and Raul Meireles combine in some outstanding passing to find Simao free on the right corner of the box. He charges in and scores from 12 yards!!! Portugal 2-0 North Korea.
56th minute: Portugal has scored three gorgeous goals today. Their attack and pace is unmatchable. A marvelous ball finds Fabio Coentrao, who lofts a perfect cross for Hugo Almeida, who heads the ball past Ri Myong-Guk.
58th minute: North Korea make two changes, Kim Kum-Il and Kim Yong-Jun come on for Pak Nam-Chol and Mun In-Guk.
60th minute: Another outstanding goal!!! It's all happening here at Cape town. Portugal have scored some of the best goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Wonderful eye-catching football by the Portuguese. Cristiano Ronaldo displays a great run and makes an accurate pass to Tiago on the edge of the box. Tiago taps the ball into the net with the side of his foot and it is Portugal 4, North Korea 0.
67th minute: Cristiano Ronaldo whips in another low cross and finds Raul Meireles at the back post. Meireles converts but off target.
70th minute: Portugal are constantly attacking the Korean defence. It has been a tremendous second half. This has been one of the best Portuguese performances in recent times.
It's the first change for the Portuguese. Raul Meireles making way for a defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso.
71st minute: A sensational effort from Cristiano Ronaldo. He blasts a shot that clips the crossbar.
74th minute: Carlos Queiroz makes another change, replacing Duda for Simao.
75th minute: North Korea use their last substitute with Nam Song-Chol coming on for Cha Jong-Hyok.
81st minute: Goal!!! Portugal 5-0 North Korea. More Problems for DPR Korea. Portugal seem to be giving a footballing lesson to their opponents. The North Korean defence make a mess of a simple clearance off the box and they add one more to the deficit. Liedson volleys the ball home from eight yards away.
87th minute: At last a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo. he puts his name on the score-sheet. Portugal 6-0 North Korea. Liedson taps the ball past the North Korean defence and finds Cristiano Ronaldo free. Ronaldo tries to slip it past Ri Myong-Guk, it bounces into the air, hits Ronaldo on the neck, bobs on his head and he slides it into the goal. This is Portugal's highest ever score in the World Cup finals.
89th minute: SUPER SEVEN!!! This time it is substitute Miguel Veloso who centres the ball over the North Korean defence for Tiago who finds the net. It is goal no.2 for Tiago.
90+2: Chilean referee, Pablo Pozo, blows the whistle and ends a frightening performance put up by the Portuguese in the second half. This can be rated as the most devastating match in the World Cup until now.
Stay tuned folks! At 11:30 IST. My colleague Achal Ashwin will be bringing the live updates for Spain vs Honduras. Do join us for that. Its been an eventful evening and i've enjoyed bringing in live updates to you.
