Portugal Makes A Statement: Routs North Korea, 7-0

The key for Portugal’s offensive explosion wasn’t just the talent differential between the game but overmatched North Koreans and the Seleccao. For the first time this tournament, Portugal played free-flowing, attacking soccer, working the wings and funneling much of the finishing touches through Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent less time writhing on the ground and more time dishing to teammates, taking some thunderous shots on goal (including a net-rattler off the post) and finally scoring himself late in the match.

It’s simplistic, yes, but it’s not inaccurate to say that Portugal seems to function off Cristiano Ronaldo’s ever-changing moods. Tiago, Almeida, and Simao all played brilliantly, but this team’s limit is defined by Ronaldo’s degree of commitment. If he’s feeling it, this team can chain-detonate on hapless opponents throughout the tournament. If not, they’ll flop like their captain on one of his less flattering days of squandered brilliance.

Left back Fabio Coentrao beat the North Korean defense down the left side of attack, getting to the by line and crossing for forward Hugo Almeida, whose header back across goal made it 3-0, Portugal.

Almeida’s 56th minute goal was Portugal’s second in three minutes, coming after Almeida contributed to the build-up for Simao’s 53rd minute goal.

Winger Simao, who was a surprising omission from Carlos Queiroz’s team against Cote d’Ivoire, finished a Raul Meireles set-up in the 59th minute to put Portugal up 2-0 over North Korea.

Portugal used a series of small passed to break down the North Korea defense, with Hugo Almeida laying a pass off to Meireles in the arc. The midfielder slid a pass to the right of attack for an oncoming Simao who slid his shot under a lunging Ri Myong-Guk for Portugal’s second goal.

Portugal got on the board in the 29th minute through midfielder Raul Meireles and hold a 1-0 halftime lead over North Korea.

Meireles finished a Thiago set-up from eight yards out to give the Portuguese their first goal of the tournament, part of an active display in the first half from Portugal which saw them hold 59 percent of the possession and accumulate 12 shots.

Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles’s run through the North Korean defense was rewarded by Thiago, who slid a ball through the defense from 25 yards out, allowing Meireles to run onto a ball eight yards from goal and beat Ri Myong-Guk for the Seleccao’s first goal of World Cup 2010.

Meireles ran around three North Korean defenders and onto the Thiago pass to the right of goal. The ball, skidding along the wet Cape Town surface, slowed up right before is reached the six yard box. Ri, coming off his line, could not reach the ball before Meireles put a right foot to it, beating the goalkeeper to his left for the opening goal.

Central defender Ricardo Carvalho has two early scoring opportunities, hitting the post in the 7th minute.

Early, Carvalho went high with a chance set-up by Cristiano Ronaldo, the shot taking surprisingly high on the pitch for the center half: 16 yards out.

Portgual coach Carlos Queiroz has made four changes to his lineup for today’s match with North Korea, which has just kicked-off.

Replacing Deco in central midfield, who is out with a hip injury, is Thiago.