Brazil Vs Korea ( 2 - 1 )
Brazil secured an opening 2-1 victory over Korea DPR through goals from Maicon and Elano but the Asian outsiders made them work hard for their win. Defender Maicon produced an astonishing goal out of the blue to set Brazil on their way to a 2-1 win over a stubborn North Korea and spare their blushes after a shockingly bad first-half performance Tuesday.
Boasting impressive ball skills, the Koreans attacked mainly through Jong Tae Se - dubbed the Wayne Rooney of Asia - who tested Brazil 'keeper Julio Cesar on several occasions and his side was never outplayed. The North Koreans were finally rewarded for their tireless work with a consolation goal by defender Ji Yun Nam in the 89th minute.
Ivory Coast draw with Portugal ( 0 - 0 )
Ivory Cost and Portugal showed plenty of ability but ultimately could not break the other down, battling to a hard-fought scoreless draw. Ivory Coast and Portugal entered the World Cup fray here on Tuesday and produced a goalless draw marked by Didier Drogba's return to action just ten days after surgery on his broken arm. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo had the best chance to break the stalemate on a crisp winter's afternoon in the first half when the Real Madrid winger's 25m shot rattled Boubacar Barry's left post in the 10th minute. A Drogba-inspired Ivory Coast had Portugal on the hop in time added on but he miscued his shot and man-of-the-match Ronaldo and co. escaped with a point.
New Zealand Vs Slovakia ( 1 - 1 )
A last-gasp Winston Reid header snatched New Zealand an improbable draw against a dominant Slovakia side in their Group F opener in Rustenburg. New Zealand defender Winston Reid headed an equalizer in the dying seconds to earn a 1-1 draw with Slovakia and secure his country's first ever World Cup point in their Group F opener on Tuesday. Fullback Reid popped up to glance a header past Jan Mucha that went in off the foot of the post to bring the All Whites level after Robert Vittek had put Slovakia in front five minutes after halftime in what had been a fairly pedestrian contest.
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