New Zealand 1-1 SlovakiaThe 12:30 kick offs threw up another disappointing game in a half empty stadium in Rustenburg. Slovakia looked to be on course for a first World Cup win as an independent state, but the All Whites rallied late on to earn a first of their own, a World Cup point.
This game followed the general pattern of the tournament so far as both sides were tentative, nervous and lacking in any attacking purpose. Mexican waves, therefore, were not long in coming.
The New Zealanders started the game the brightest. An aerial bombardment of the Slovakian penalty area was their only ploy and it almost paid dividends early on, but the storm was generally easily weathered.
Slovakia weren't much better themselves. Their much lauded captain, Marek Hamsik, disappointed throughout, as did most of his team mates, but the one shining light was Vladimir Weiss. The Manchester City midfielder and son of the manager, Vladimir senior, clearly had quick feet and movement. If the Slovaks were going to produce anything, he would surely be involved.
Another youngster, Miroslav Stoch, was also clearly missed. The newly signed Fenerbache player inspired Twente to the title in Holland and is of the same mould as Weiss. His dribbling skills may have made a difference.
Into the second half, Slovakia started to take some control and finally the goal came through Vittek. The bald target man took his header beautifully and really that should have been enough to win the game and put the Europeans on top of Group F ahead of trickier games.
The all Whites threw everything they had at the opposition in the dying minutes and Shane Schmeltz showed great calmness and precision to put the ball on the head of a delighted Winston Reid.
This may be as good as it gets for Ricki Herbert's team, but for Slovakia it was an opportunity lost. If Italy and Paraguay go on to beat the All Whites then this will be the moment that the Slovaks through away their World Cup ambitions.
Judging from the performances of both these teams today, neither of them should have enough to bother the the other group members anyway.
Group G
Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal
The meeting of Cote d'Ivoire and Portugal in Port Elizabeth was considered to be one of the glamour ties of the opening round, but not for the first time in South Africa, a game failed to live up to expectations.
In the first 45 minutes the closest anybody came to breaking the deadlock was Cristiano Ronaldo. His long range effort dipped and swerved before hitting a post. After that early incident, the game became crappy and uneventful. If anything, the Elephants showed the greater purpose going forward, while the Portuguese became unsurprisingly petulant and almost uninterested.
Gervinho became the star of the game in the second period. The diminutive Lille striker with the Brazilian name showed pace and dedication to getting his country an opening victory, and as the game wore on the Ivorians looked the more likely to achieve that feat.
Ultimately however, both teams settled for a draw, even with Didier Drogba on the pitch. With a last second corner, the elephants chose to take it short and end the game rather than ping it into the box, something they might come to regret.
Portugal were a disappointment. Their two year problem of not being able to score has not been solved by the lightweight Liedson, who barely touched the ball up front. Danny failed to shine in midfield, Deco didn't want to be there and the Nani issue looks to be hanging over the squad. The Ivory Coast missed a big chance to end Portugal's tournament early on.
Qualification may now come down to goal difference between the teams, meaning whoever can lose by the least against Brazil, or win by the most against North Korea, who themselves will be no push over.
Brazil 2-1 North KoreaThe North Korean shocked the world by running the five time champions so close in Ellis Park, the scene of Brazil's Confederations Cup victory last summer.
The first half was either another boring 45 minutes of World Cup football or a lesson in the timeless are of defending. The Koreans showcased their organisational qualities and probably the best defensive performance yet to be seen at these finals. The pre game notions that they would fold like napkins were quickly discarded.
Not only were they defensively adept but the North Korean Wayne Rooney, Jong Tae-Se, was proving to be a half decent player after all, as the Selecao didn't have things their own way.
The favourites picked things up in the second half. At half time they would have been happy to escape from Johannesburg with a 1-0 win having looked so narrow and lethargic in the opening period. The spark the world was waiting for finally arrived via Elano and Maicon a few minutes into the second half.
Maican's shot, or cross, rocketed into the net from the tightest of angles, taking the Korean 'keeper by surprise. The Inter right back looked to even be crying as he fell to the floor in celebration. What it means to represent the beautiful game's primary exponents was summed up in his reaction to scoring.
With the pressure mounting, Robinho, who clearly takes more pride in his national canary yellow shirt than he does in the blue of Manchester City, slid a pass through to an overlapping Elano who side footed home effortlessly.
On the occasion of both strikes Brazil appeared to be going nowhere but they can strike from anywhere at any moment. Their movement and ability to pick a pass resulted in two goals that other teams can only dream of scoring.
North Korea played their part and even scored a goal of their own late on. That alone will give them confidence in their final games and they must now even be considered potential fillers of second spot in Group G. With Portugal and Ivory Coast so profligate in front of goal, what seemed impossible may not be so unlikely after all.
As for Brazil, they must do better, particularly Luis Fabiano and Kaka.
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