Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Stylish Portugal mauls N. Korea
By Mitch Phillips

Portugal enjoyed its biggest ever World Cup victory when it overwhelmed North Korea 7-0 in Group G Monday to end the Asian side's hopes.
Ronaldo got on the scoresheet at last as the Portuguese put themselves in prime position to accompany Brazil into the second round after a scintillating display of attacking football.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz had said he would approach the game in three stages – win, score goals and then look at the standings – and his players followed the plan to the letter.
Goals by Raul Meireles in the first half, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago in a seven-minute blitz early in the second, and further strikes by substitute Liedson, Ronaldo and Tiago again secured the win that took them on to four points.
“It was a great display, good goals, great attitude. We needed a moment like this, a well-played game so that the motivation and confidence can be even bigger now,” said Queiroz.
Portugal is now two points behind already-qualified Brazil, who it meets in their final game, but more importantly has boosted its goal difference so much that Ivory Coast needs to score a hatful in its final game against the Koreans.
The Ivorians, beaten 3-1 by Brazil Sunday, has one point and a draw for Portugal in its final game would in any case guarantee that Queiroz's side progress to the last 16.
North Korea's amazing journey, though, has suffered a terminal blow and coach Kim Jong-hun said he took responsibility for the heavy defeat for “not planning the right strategy.
“...our players, I think, played to their full potential,” he said. “However, tactically speaking, I think it fell apart so we couldn't block their attacks and that's why they scored a lot of goals.”
Although Portugal should have gone ahead after seven minutes when goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk failed hopelessly to claim a Simao corner and Ricardo Carvalho thumped his header against a post, it was anything but one-way traffic.
Conditions were made treacherous by relentless rain and with defenders slipping and the ball skidding, both sides unleashed shots from long range at every opportunity.
Cha Jong-hyok fizzed one just wide while a parried Hong Yong-jo effort fell to Pak Nam-Chol but he headed over.
After 25 minutes of their famous 1966 quarterfinal North Korea led 3-0 before eventually losing 5-3.
This time, though, it was Portugal which struck first as Tiago, drafted in for the injured Deco, rolled a beautifully weighted ball into the path of Meireles who struck it hard and low beyond Ri in the 29th minute.
That took the edge off Korea and it was one-way traffic after that with the match settled by a trio of well-made goals.
Meireles and Almeida combined well to set up Simao to tuck in the first of them after 53 minutes, Fabio Coentrao crossed for Almeida to head the next after 56 and Ronaldo put another on a plate for Tiago on the hour.
Ronaldo, desperate to end his 16-month goal drought, hit the bar after 70 minutes before Liedson smashed in the fifth 10 minutes from time.
Ronaldo did not have to wait long for his goal, though, although he had a bit of luck when it came.
In the 87th minute he broke clear and the ball bounced into the air off keeper Ri, rolled over Ronaldo's head and fell into his path with the goal at his mercy. He could not miss.
Tiago put the icing on Portugal's cake two minutes after Ronaldo had scored by grabbing his second goal, heading home a cross from Miguel Veloso, to finish off the rout.


Clic here to read the story from its source.