Europeans give North Korea seven-goal World Cup thrashing

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP):

Portugal revived their World Cup campaign with a dominating 7-0 win over North Korea in Group G yesterday, eliminating the Asian team from the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the sixth goal of the game, his first in a competitive match for the national team since the 2008 European Championship.

Ronaldo also set up Tiago's first goal in the 60th. Tiago added another for the 2006 World Cup semi-finalists in the 89th, while Raul Meireles, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Liedson also scored.

"It was a great day for Portugal and Portuguese football," Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said. "The players are really happy with the way they played, the attitude for the game, the beautiful football, the beautiful goals."

The win moves Portugal into second place in Group G with four points, two behind Brazil. Cte d'Ivoire (ivory Coast) have one point and North Korea are out of the tournament after two straight losses.

One-sided match

It was the most one-sided World Cup match since Germany routed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in 2002.

North Korea had early chances, but were undone when Meireles latched on to a clever pass by Tiago and gave Portugal their first goal of the tournament. The goal seemed to deflate the Koreans, while the Portuguese finally began to show some of the Latin flair that has made them an outside favourite to win their first championship.

"Tactically speaking, we fell apart and we couldn't block their attacks," North Korea coach Kim Jong Hun said. "It was my fault for not playing the right strategy and that is why we conceded a lot of goals."

North Korean state television aired live coverage of the game, a first for a North Korean football match taking place abroad.

The last time the two teams met, Portugal rallied from a three-goal deficit to win 5-3 in the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals.

Powerful header

Meireles assisted on Simao's goal in the 53rd minute, which went through the legs of North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk. Almeida scored three minutes later from a powerful header, and Tiago knocked home a pass from Ronaldo in the 60th.

Liedson scored from a defensive error, before Ronaldo ended a 16-month goal drought for his country with a simple finish after the ball fell to him.

"To score seven goals in a World Cup is not easy," said Ronaldo, who gave his man-of-the-match award to Tiago. "My teammates played very well."

Line-ups:

Portugal: Eduardo, Bruno Alves, Miguel Brito, Ricardo Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Mendes, Hugo Almeida (Liedson, 77), Simao Sabrosa (Duda, 73), Raul Meireles (Miguel Veloso, 70), Tiago, Fabio Coentrao.

North Korea: Ri Myong Guk, Cha Jong Hyok (Nam Song Chol, 75), Pak Nam Chol (Kim Kum Il, 58) , Ri Kwang Chon, Ji Yun Nam, Hong Yong Jo, Mun In Guk (Kim Yong Jun, 58), Pak Chol Jin, Ri Jun Il, An Yong Hak, Jong Tae Se.