Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Portugal beat North Korea without mercy

June 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Cristiano Ronaldo the Portugal captain finally scored and the Portuguese put themselves in prime position next to Brazil in Group G to progress to the knock-out stages after an impressive display of attacking football.

Coach Carlos Queiroz had said he would address three aspects in the game - win, score goals and then look at the tables and his players followed the plan perfectly.

Goals from Raul Meireles in the first half and then a seven-minute blitz by Simão Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago in the second half, added to goals from substitute Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago, secured a resounding victory that left Portugal with four points.

"It was a great performance, beautiful goals and great attitude. We needed a moment like this, a well played game, so that the motivation and confidence will increase even more," said Queiroz.

"It's a great result, but it’s another game and we have not won anything. Now we must think of qualifying for the next phase, one game at a time, try to beat others with the same ambition that went into this game", added Queiroz.

Portugal is now two points behind the already qualified Brazil, with whom they will play in the last game of group G on Friday, in Durban. With this trouncing, Portugal has increased their chances of qualifying due to an excellent goal difference, in case they lose to Brazil and the Ivory Coast has a moderate win against North Korea.

On a rainy night in Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, Portugal took the lead when Tiago, who replaced the injured Deco, made a perfect pass for Meireles to find the net, defended by goalkeeper Ri at 29 minutes.

This goal shook North Korea, who lost organization as they tried to recover from being 0-1 down, conceding too many spaces, which proved to be fatal as Portugal took control of the game.

The second half showed a determined Portugal team tearing the North Korean defense apart and it wasn’t long before Raúl Meireles and Hugo Almeida combined well to pass to Simão Sabrosa, who kicked the ball between the legs of keeper Ri, to make it 2-0 at 53 minutes.

Three minutes later Fábio Coentrão beat his man on the left corridor, crossed to Hugo Almeida who headed the 3rd at 56 minutes. Not long after Cristiano Ronaldo went to the area, placed the ball back to Tiago who clinically side-footed home a well placed kick to make it 4-0.

Portugal then slowed down a bit but still kept control of the game. Desperate to end his 16 month goal drought for the national team, Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar at 25 minutes with a powerful shot and Liedson, who had replaced Hugo Almeida three minutes earlier, made it 5-0, nine minutes from time after a defense blunder from North Korea.

But Ronaldo did not have to wait long for his chance, relying on a bit of luck to finally end his jinx. At 43 minutes, a disputed ball deflected between him and goalkeeper Ri, bounced off CR7’s back, then bounced to his head, where it rolled off of the Real Madrid star and landing conveniently at his feet, where he just needed to push it in for Portugal’s 6th goal at 87 minutes.

Two minutes later Tiago scored his second of the match with a perfect header from a cross by Miguel Veloso, ending the embarrassment for North Korea and resulting in the highest scoring game (7-0) of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa so far.

After the game, Cristiano Ronaldo gave away his nomination of the best player of the game to teammate Tiago whom he felt deserved it more than him. Indeed it was an honorable gesture by Ronaldo.

More news and information about Cristiano Ronaldo can be found at: http://www.cristianoronaldoportugal.com

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This website was made to bring you news and information about Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain and Real Madrid football star, the Spanish League Championship games as well as the 2010 World Cup where he will be playing from 11 June and hopefully till 11 July 2010.