Medal favorites Brazil will face stiff resistance from Asian champions DPR Korea when they meet on Saturday in the Olympic women's soccer tournament.
DPR Korea edged African champions Nigeria in their opener on Wednesday to top group F with impressive open football, dominating the match with little chances left for Nigerians in front of their goalmouth.
Forward team captain Ri Kum Suk chested down a cross from midfielder Ri Un Suk. When the ball bounced to a Nigerian defender, DPR Korean midfielder Kim Kyong Hwa stole the chance to fire home a brilliant goal in the 27th minute.
The goal later became the lone one in the group's opening two matches among the four teams of Brazil, Germany, Nigeria and DPR Korea.
The Koreans didn't talk too much about the victory and started to look ahead right after the match.
"The result says everything. We will be prepared for our future games against Germany and Brazil," said team coach Kim Pong II.
Brazil, however, failed to rip up the German defense and settled for one point only, even though they had more ball possession and launched a number of attacks.
Boasting of attacking duo Marta and Christiane, Brazil have yet to crown in either World Cup or the Olympic Games. Marta, the two-time World Player of the Year, has set her eye on the gold medal of this year's Olympic Games.
However, the iron-willed Koreans will pose as huge hurdle on Brazil's road to triumph.
The two teams have never encountered before but the Asians seem to be in a better form. DPR Korea have seven wins and one draw in their last eight matches, without conceding a goal, an enviable record by Brazil, who had two wins, two draws and four losses in their last eight.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)