Brazil wins Group G after 0-0 draw with Portugal

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Portugal reached the second round of the World Cup on Friday after a 0-0 draw with group winner Brazil as two of soccer’s most powerful offenses couldn’t score.

Brazil had already secured advancement and won Group G with seven points, two more than Portugal. Ivory Coast, which beat North Korea 3-0, was third with four points. The Koreans ended with zero.

Portugal came into the match with a comfortable goal differential to just about guarantee its spot in the round of 16 even with a loss.

Brazil plays the runner-up in Group H on Monday in Johannesburg.

“Portugal came playing back, trying to use Cristiano Ronaldo on the counterattacks,” Julio Cesar said. “It was a difficult group so it was good to finish first. Now the hard part begins and we can’t lose anymore.”

Portugal faces the Group H winner Tuesday in Cape Town.

“Portugal advanced with merits and now we have to start thinking about our next matches,” coach Carlos Queiroz said. “It was a difficult match for Brazil and for us.”

Both teams had good chances, but failed to capitalize at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Brazil striker Nilmar had a shot tipped against the goalpost by goalkeeper Eduardo in the 30th minute, and Luis Fabiano’s close-range header just missed wide in the 39th. Portugal had a goal denied by keeper Julio Cesar in the 60th, when he barely tipped wide a shot by Raul Meireles after a dangerous run by Ronaldo.

The match was one of the most-anticipated in the group stage, a meeting between two talented teams known for their attacking style. Brazil came into the tournament as the top-ranked team, while Portugal is No. 3. Both teams had dominating wins in the previous match, with Brazil beating Ivory Coast 3-1 and Portugal routing North Korea 7-0.

The result kept alive a 19-match unbeaten streak for Portugal, which hasn’t lost since a 6-2 defeat at Brazil in a 2008 friendly. It halted Brazil’s seven-match winning streak.

Brazil controlled possession most of the physical match in front of 62,712 fans, with Portugal relying on quick counterattacks and the skills of Ronaldo. Mexican referee Benito Archundia showed seven yellow cards – four to Portugal – in the first half.

The best opportunity for the Brazilians came from Nilmar after a perfect pass from Luis Fabiano. But Eduardo knocked it off the post.

Luis Fabiano, who scored twice against Ivory Coast, also had a great chance after a cross from Maicon, but his header bounced off the ground and just missed wide with the goalkeeper beaten.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar made an incredible save on the shot by Meireles after a dangerous run from Ronaldo, who beat three defenders on the right before Lucio touched the ball across the area and into Meireles’ path.

Both teams played without their top playmakers and it probably made a difference. Brazil couldn’t count on Kaka because of a late red card in the match against Ivory Coast, while Portugal was without Brazil-born Deco for the second straight match because of a right hip injury.

The Brazilians also played without starting midfielder Elano because of a right ankle injury sustained in the second half against the Ivorians, and coach Dunga left Robinho out of starting lineup to rest.

It was the first time the teams met at the World Cup since Eusebio helped the Portuguese beat the Brazilians 3-1 in 1966.

Ivory Coast beats NKorea 3-0, fails to advance

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Yaya Toure, Koffi Romaric N’Dri and Salomon Kalou all scored for Ivory Coast in a 3-0 win over North Korea at the World Cup, but the Elephants still won’t advance to the round of 16.

Ivory Coast started Friday needing a big win and a Portugal loss to Brazil to have any chance of moving on. But Brazil and Portugal tied 0-0, putting the Portuguese into the next round.

Ghana is the only one of six African teams in the World Cup to advance to the round of 16.

North Korea lost all three of its matches, giving up 12 goals and scoring just one.

While they won’t move ahead, the bigger, more muscular Ivorians didn’t disappoint a supportive crowd of than 34,000 crowd, finishing their tournament by attacking all day against North Korea.

There were large groups of Ivorians in the crowd, wearing orange shirts and dipping and swaying in unison to the beat of African drums and the constant drone of vuvuzelas. One section, on the top tier of Mbombela Stadium, even included a mascot: a dancing white elephant, complete with long white trunk and flapping ears.

The fans came expecting goals, and Ivory Coast kept them on their feet.

The Elephants opened the scoring in the 14th when Arthur Boka sent a low cross into the area and Toure neatly deflected it past North Korean goalkeeper Ri Yong Guk.

Romaric hit the far past with a long-range drive from the right in the 17th, catching Ri completely off guard, but was on target with a header in the 20th after Drogba’s powerful drive cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.

Kalou scored the final goal in the 82nd.

North Korea had few serious scoring opportunities. Captain Hong Yong Jo hooked his free kick from 25 yards to the right in the 24th and striker Jong Tae Se’s long-range right-foot shot in the 53rd was easily saved by Boubacar Barry.

Jong had a chance in the 81st, but he couldn’t properly connect with Hong’s pass and was unable to get a shot on the rebound.

It was a disappointment for the fast and hardworking Jong, nicknamed “The People’s Rooney” in Korea, where his play has been compared with England striker Wayne Rooney.

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AP

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