PORTUGAL FIND THEIR FORM TO PUT SEVEN PAST NORTH KOREA

A rampant Portugal side dispatched North Korea from the World Cup with a ruthless second half display this afternoon.

Carlos Queiroz's men led by just one goal at half time as the plucky North Koreans did their best to take something from the fixture.

After the interval Portugal looked like a changed side and Cristiano Ronaldo finally found some space to make things happen.

Portugal got their second in the 53rd minute and that was the signal for the floodgates to not just open, but collapse, as the Koreans shipped a further five goals on their way out of the tournament.

After the Ivory Coast's loss to Brazil last night Portugal were well aware their qualification from the group could come down to goal difference and that showed in the second half of the game.

Despite the Europeans taking a 23rd minute lead through Raul Meireles, North Korea put in an impressive effort, forcing Portugese 'keeper Eduardo into a couple of good stops.

However after the break every changed with the North Koreans appearing unable to continue their tiring running to chase the ball down that gave them such a respectable start to the tournament against Brazil.

Two goals in three minutes from Simao and Hugo Almeida put the game beyond the Koreans with less than an hour played. When former Chelsea midfielder Tiago added a fourth on the hour mark fans were left wandering how many.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar with a magnificent effort before substitue Liedson capitalised on a defence error to fire home with his first touch of the game. Ronaldo finally got his goal two minutes from time after a fortunate deflection off his own head allowed him to tap into an empty net and Tiago grabbed his second to complete the rout just 60 seconds later.

With a nine goal and three point advantage over Ivory Coast it will take a stunning turn of events in the last round of group games for Portugal not to qualify for the last sixteen but when you're playing Brazil, anything can happen.

KAKA CONTROVERSY MARS SAMBA KINGS VICTORY

Brazil's qualification for the knockout stages was cast under a dark cloud as Kaka was controversially sent off late on in their 3-1 victory over the Ivroy Coast.

Luis Fabiano opened the scoring in the first half with a fantastic finish from a tight angle, powerfully finding the top corner after latching onto Kaka's through ball.

The first moment of controversy came with Fabiano's second when he twice appeared to handle the ball in the build up to what was otherwise a sublime individual goal.

Brazil added a third when Kaka again supplied a perfect ball for Elano to tap home, Didier Drogba then pulled one back for the African side before the Brazilian playmaker was controversially sent off for a second bookable offence.

A good performance from the five times World Champions saw them cruise past Sven-Goran Eriksson's Ivory Coast side without ever having to find top gear. However two classy goals from Luis Fabiano and a tap in from Elano are simply the side story to the most controversial moment of the tournament so far.

After receiving a first yellow card for a petty argument with Barcelona star Yaya Toure over a disputed free-kick, just three minutes later Kaka was shown a second yellow and a red one to go with it. An off-the-ball incident picked up by none of the commentators on TV or radio had left substitute Kader Keita on the ground and sparked a furious reaction from his teammates.

With Kaka appearing to flee the scene of the crime the attentions turned to the TV replays as the officials attempted to restore order on the pitch. Replays showed Kaka had, perhaps intentionally, blocked off Keita's run but the minimal contact brought out an exceptional reaction from the winger.

Whilst Keita writhed in 'agony', clutching his face and rolling on the floor, the referee, despite not seeing the incident, decided Kaka was to blame and duly trotted across the pitch to give the Real Madrid star his marching orders.

The incident reeks of irony for Brazil and those who can remember as far back as the 2002 World Cup will remember why. Rivaldo's disgraceful theatrics when a ball was kicked at him with a little extra sauce in a match against Turkey saw his opponents undeservedly reduced to ten men as the shocked Hakan Unsal was sent from the pitch.

Rivaldo was clearly struck on the knee and yet threw himself to the floor clutching his face. The Brazilian legend was fined for his actions but refused to apologize, saying, "I'm calm about the punishment, and I am not sorry about anything. I was both the victim and the person who got fined."

Ironically for the Ivory Coast Keita's theatrics mean that their qualification rivals Portugal will face a notably weakened Brazil side at arguably the most crucial stage of the tournament.


Rivaldo's dive against Turkey. (2002 World Cup)