Portugal smash seven past North Korea to go second in Group G.

Portugal 7-0 North Korea
FIFA World Cup 2010
Group G
12.30pm, Monday 21 June
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town

Portugal produced a stunning display to ease their way past North Korea and move a step closer to booking their place in the last 16 of the competition.

After being held to a goalless draw by Ivory Coast in their opening game, Portugal looked unstoppable and showed their potential with an emphatic victory in Cape Town.

Goals from Jose Raul Meireles, Simao, Hugo Almeida, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Tiago mean Portugal only need a point against Brazil in their last game to ensure they reach the next phase.

Despite putting up a brave fight against Brazil in their opening game, North Korea failed to produce the same kind of performance and will be packing their bags home after their last game against Ivory Coast.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz had stressed the importance of getting a victory and knew it would affect the final placings in the group.

Goal difference could prove to be the key if Portugal lose against Brazil and Ivory Coast beat North Korea, so this decisive seven goal victory could be so important for Portugal.

Despite having to put up with heavy rain in Cape Town, Portugal got off to the perfect start and opened the scoring on 29 minutes when Raul Meireles raced into the area and fired a low shot past North Korea keeper Ri Myong-Guk.

Simao doubled Portugal’s lead on 53 minutes when he was played through by Raul Meireles and made no mistake striking home from 12-yards.

The game was effectively over when Almeida made it three on 56 minutes after he headed the ball home from close-range.

The North Korea defence was all over the place and Tiago netted his first goal of the game on the hour mark when he side-footed home a pass from Ronaldo.

Portugal looked unstoppable and substitute Liedson made it five on 81 minutes when he fired a volley into the back of the net.

Ronaldo was determined to get among the scorers and he finally got his first goal for two-years when he made it six on 88 minutes after the ball landed on the back of his neck and he volleyed into an empty net from ten yards.

Tiago completed the rout when he added his second of the game on 89 minutes and it promises to be a mouth-watering game against Brazil in the final game to determine who will finish top of Group G.

Portugal
1 Eduardo, 2 Alves, 6 Carvalho, 13 Miguel, 23 Coentrao, 8 Mendes, 16 Raul Meireles (Veloso 70), 19 Tiago, 7 Ronaldo (C), 11 Simao (Duda 74), 18 Almeida (Liedson 77)

Goals Raul Meireles 29, Simao, 53, Almeida, 56, Tiago, 60, 89, Liedson, 81, Ronaldo, 87

North Korea 
1 Myong-Guk Ri, 2 Cha Jong-Hyok (Nam Song-Chol, 75), 3 Ri Jun-Il, 5 Ri Kwang-Chon, 13 Pak Chol-Jin, 4 Pak Nam-Chol (K-I Kim, 58), 8 Ji Yun-Nam, 11 Mun In-Guk (Kim Yong-Jun, 58), 17 Ahn Yong-Hak, 9 Jong Tae-Se, 10 Hong Yong-Jo (C)

Referee P Pozo