Live The Pitch

HAHA just kidding!  That will surely be the headline tomorrow in the North Korean press!  North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will surely not let his people know that his beloved soccer team lost!  After hearing that the North Korean fans in attendance at the game were actually paid Chinese actors you never know what North Koreans will hear.

In the first match of the day New Zealand and Slovakia would end in a 1-1 draw.   New Zealand earned their first ever point in a World Cup match.  Winston Reid scored a brilliant goal for New Zealand in the 93rd minute to earn the point.  Reid found himself open on the back post and elevated above the defense to head it into the net.

Slovakia took the lead in the 50th minute when Robert Vittect headed home a great service as he got in behind the New Zealand defense.  Vittect appeared to be offside after seeing the replay but the linesman was a few yards out of position and could not see the advantage.  Slovakia had held New Zealand to just a few dangerous chances near the goal throughout the match, so to lose points this late in the match was devastating.

In the second match of the day Portugal and Ivory Coast drew 0-0.  Neither team will come away with this result happy as there was never a good flow to the match.  Ivory Coast had more chances but Portugal had their share as well.  Portugal looked like a one man team with Cristiano Ronaldo being the only threat.  Didier Drogba would be used as a second half sub, but failed to get involved like his usual self.

In the late match, Brazil defeated North Korea 2-1.  Brazil dominated from whistle to whistle but failed to break through until the 55th minute when Maicon got in behind the North Korean and his cross beat the goalkeeper at the near post finding the side netting.

North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myung-Guk anticipated the ball coming into the six but the shot would surprise him and beat him near side.

Brazil doubled their lead in the 72nd minute after Robinho played an excellent through ball to a streaking Elano who drilled sent it in with a great first touch shot.

North Korea made things interesting when they caught Brazil sleeping in the 89th minute when Ji Yun-Nam dribbled past two defenders before beating Julio Cesar with a great left footed goal.  It was too little too late in the end for North Korea but they will come away with this result as a huge moral victory.  Yes, Brazil could have easily won by a wider margin if the finished their chances, but North Korea played with a lot of fight and stayed organized throughout the match.

Here is a great video of the goals from today by David Matthews with some great music over at Deadspin.com-Your Culturally Insensitive World Cup Goal Roundup For June 15th