Brazil began their quest for a sixth World Cup title with an unconvincing 2-1 win over North Korea.
In a game that many were tipping to be a rout, the South Americans could find no way past North Korea in the first half of their World Cup Group G encounter at Ellis Park.
The joint tournament favourites found their Asian opponents difficult to break down and had their Samba blushes saved when Maicon and Elano scored two second-half strikes.
Inter Milan full-back Maicon gave the Brazilians the goal their dominance deserved with a 55th minute piledriver that swerved past goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk from an impossibly tight angle on the right by-line.
Robinho, who was the game’s outstanding player, then provided one of the assists of the championship so far as he threaded a delightful ball to Elano in the 72nd minute before the midfielder slotted home a second.
North Korea, who showed lots of endeavour, got their reward when Jong Tae-Se, their best player on the night, played in Ji Yun-Nam to grab an 89th minute consolation but Brazil hung on to top the ‘Group of Death’ after Portugal and Ivory Coast’s goalless draw earlier on Tuesday.
Like so many games in the South Africa finals, it failed to catch the imagination but Dunga will be delighted his side continued their 76-year record of being unbeaten in their opening match.
The North Koreans were the first to have a shot on target after 10 minutes when Japan-born striker Jong Tae-Se bustled past two markers and drilled in a left-footed shot which Julio Cesar was able to gather.
Brazil were dominating possession but struggling to pick the final pass and the Koreans were not purely sitting back as Cha Jong-Hyok got forward to blast a left-footed shot wide after 15 minutes.
The South Americans threatened when Luis Fabiano slotted the ball through to Robinho in the box. The forward, on loan at Santos from Manchester City, was able to make room for a shot but North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk got well behind it.
The lack of genuine width seemed to be causing Brazil problems as North Korea’s five-man defence ganged up on Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Elano in a congested attacking third and Kim Jong-Hun’s team were content to burst forward in small numbers on the break.
Goalkeeper Myong-Guk parried away a Maicon drive at his near post in the 28th minute which was Brazil’s best effort up to that point.
The North Koreans were making a fight of it and, following a corner, Pak Chol-Jin cut the ball back from the right to Ri Kwang-Chon but the defender scuffed a presentable shooting chance wide from 25 yards.
Not much was going Brazil’s way as Michel Bastos’ shot deflected off Pak Chol-Jin and looped over the crossbar with Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai wrongly awarding a goal-kick, and Ri Kwang-Chon made a vital header clear under pressure from Luis Fabiano as the half ended goalless, against all the odds.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first had ended as North Korea, to borrow Jose Mourinho’s phrase, “parked the bus” on the edge of the box and Brazil struggled to find a way through.
Michel Bastos blasted a free-kick wide from just outside the box in the 51st minute after Pak Chol-Jin was penalised for a foul on Kaka. The Real Madrid star then chested the ball down for Robinho to shoot from 26 yards but his right-footed effort was again wayward.
By Elliot Ball
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