Read a full match report of the World Cup 2010 Group G game between Portugal and North Korea at the Green Point Stadium, Cape Town on Monday June 21 2010.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his 16-month international goal drought and served notice of his destructive capabilities by inspiring Portugal to an emphatic victory against North Korea.

Portugal’s seven-goal win, their biggest-ever World Cup success, leaves the Ivory Coast needing a victory over North Korea and a nine-goal swing in their favour if they are to deny Carlos Queiroz’s team a place in the last 16.

Portugal will qualify with a point against Brazil and Ronaldo, who made one, scored one and hit the woodwork in this game, was the stand-out performer.

Portugal coach Queiroz was contradictory in his pre-match press conference on Sunday, first claiming that his team had great respect for the North Koreans before insisting that his players would be looking to boost their goal difference with a healthy victory in Cape Town.

But while Portugal achieved their ultimate objective by comprehensively beating their opponents, the North Koreans could have made life much more difficult for Ronaldo and co. had they capitalised on their early dominance.

With forwards Jong Tae Se and Hong Yong Jo particularly impressive, the Koreans produced the kind of slick, attacking football that England failed dismally to deliver in this stadium on Friday evening.

Cha Jong Hyok sent a 25-yard strike narrowly wide on eleven minutes before goalkeeper Eduardo saved well from Hong before Pak Nam Chol headed the rebound over from 10 yards.

North Korea were organised at the back and their counter-attacking was crisp and threatening. But Portugal, painfully aware of the ramifications of a failure to win this game, grabbed the lead on 29 minutes when Raul Meireles gave a stunning pass from Tiago the finish it deserved from 12 yards.

Portugal’s goal gave the Koreans a distinct disadvantage, such is their reliance on their defensive discipline.

Finding an equaliser was always going to be a challenge and Portugal capitalised on the growing gaps in the North Korean defence by racing away with the game in the second half.

Simao doubled their lead on 52 minutes with another low-strike from close range before Hugo Almeida made it 3-0 with a powerful header from Fabio Coentrao’s cross two minutes later.

Tiago then added a fourth on 60 minutes when he directed Ronaldo’s cross into the net from 12 yards. Ronaldo rattled the crossbar on 71 minutes before substitute Liedson made it 5-0 nine minutes later.

But the goal that the Green Point Stadium had been desperate to witness came on 87 minutes when Ronaldo pounced on a backpass before slotting past goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk.

Korean embarrassment was ensured, but Tiago compounded their misery with a header to make it 7-0 two minutes later.