World Cup 2010: Brazil find finishing touch(最后一笔) to edge out（胜过） North Korea

On a night when the sub-zero chill seeped into every sinew（渗进每一块肌肉）, North Korea's footballers warmed the senses of most neutrals at Ellis Park by refusing to buckle to（屈服） Brazil's evident superiority and class.

They matched them blow for blow（一球换一球，也可以用于表示以牙还牙）in the first half and, having gone two goals down（落后两球）, had the pluck（勇气精神） to survive a second-half battering before earning just reward for a valiant（勇敢的） display with a late consolation（安慰，指最后进的那个球）.

Even the Brazil manager Dunga, usually the most taciturn and uncompromising of coache (巴西队教练一直被认为是最为沉默最不配合媒体的教练), felt moved to praise, saying: "They passed really well and defended extremely well – it was really hard to play against adversaries（对手） that were so tough and defensive." （邓加曾表示朝鲜的防守几近完美）

North Korea signalled their intentions by lining up with five at the back, （朝鲜此次采取的为541或者说是5311阵型）with Ri Jun-il sweeping（拖后中卫） and An Yong-hak as chief protector in a three-man central midfield（防守型前卫）. The system, as closed and stifling（沉闷的） as the country itself, had led to 10 clean sheets（清白记录，此处指零失球率） in qualification, but Brazil were expected to provide a much stiffer（艰难的） test of its credentials（入选资格）.

At this stage you feared a rout（失败）. More Brazil chances came and went with the North Koreans rarely getting the ball into their opponents' half until, just before full-time, Ji Yun-nam turned inside two players before powerfully shooting home（击中要害） – much to his, and his coach's, delight.

"I was proud of my team," said the Korean coach Kim Jong-hun. "Although we were unable to win our players fought very bravely and I was very happy for them when we scored.

"In the first half our players really carried out our plan," he added. "They're usually very good at moving the ball from side to side, individual plays but we managed to fend them off."

Dunga, meanwhile, was just as satisfied despite a few critical questions from the Brazilian media. "In the first half we didn't have the necessary speed in our play, or our passes but after the break we were more offensive," he said. "I believe the first match is always very trying（困难）. There's nervousness and anxiety after training sessions. I'm not entirely happy but this emotion is not uncommon in football. Initially we were passing from side-to-side with not enough speed but in the second half we got stronger and were able to create a lot of opportunities."

There was praise, however, for Robinho. "I'm very happy with Robinho's performance," he said. "Nobody wanted Robinho when he left Manchester City, but I did. My biggest sin is that I have an elephantine memory （记忆力好）– I remembered far back, and I didn't forget his talents."

    （这场比赛还把郑大世捧得更红了）

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