North Korea revel in red wall of defiance

North Korea, playing in a first World Cup for 44 years, built a red wall of five defenders and three holding midfielders in Johannesburg and for 55 minutes, mighty Brazil struggled to break through.

Brazil’s attackers, who were confidently expected to run riot against the Asian mystery men, were instead left perplexed, rarely getting a sight of goal and even then found goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk up to the task at a chilly Ellis Park.

Until Maicon opened the scoring in the five-time world champions’ 2-1 win, Brazil were facing the prospect of being held scoreless in a group game at the World Cup for the first time since being blanked by Spain in Argentina in 1978.

Elano doubled the Brazilians’ lead, but the North Koreans fought to the bitter end and were rewarded when Ji Yun Nam grabbed a goal in the 89th minute, fighting off Lucio’s tackle and blasting past goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

“The Brazilian team is very strong and although we were unable to win the game, I felt my players fought very well,” North Korean coach Kim Jong Hun said.

“In the first half my players carried out the plan and from that perspective the Brazilian team, whether they were attacking from the wings or through the middle, we managed to fend them off well.

“We defended well and afterwards, when we intercepted the ball we had to pass quickly, but we were unable to put it in the net until near the end.”

Tuesday’s meeting between the highest-ranked and the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup proved far from one-sided.

Brazil had never previously faced North Korea, who were playing at the World Cup for the first time since their sensational debut appearance in England in 1966.

Back then they shocked the world with a 1-0 win over then two-time world champions Italy before going out after an epic 5-3 loss to Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Based on Tuesday’s stubborn resistance they may yet cause further irritation to Group C hotshots Portugal in Cape Town on Monday and Ivory Coast in Nelspruit four days later.

Brazil were indebted to Inter Milan right-back Maicon’s piece of sublime skill which finally broke the deadlock and sent the South Americans on their way.

His swerving shot from a tight angle seemed to liberate the Brazilians and Galatasaray midfielder Elano made the game safe with a strike in the 72nd minute after he was released by Robinho’s defence-splitting pass.

Ji’s consolation goal was celebrated by a small but enthusiastic gathering of North Korean fans flown in by the Pyongyang government to back their team.

“We were hoping to see North Korea score at least two goals in the first half and we were disappointed not to see any,” 43-year-old Kim Yong Chon told AFP through an interpreter.

“We will also be supporting South Korea, our hearts are with them too, but we have no tickets for any of their games.

“We will stay here as long as North Korea are in the tournament, we hope to reach the quarter-finals, who knows, maybe even the final.”