Polished Portugal in seventh heaven

Portugal overwhelmed Korea DPR, scoring six second-half goals to move to the brink of the FIFA World Cup knockout stages.

Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the XI held by Ivory Coast in Portugal's Group G opener and was fully vindicated as three of them – Simão, Hugo Almeida and Tiago – registered in a destructive spell just after half-time. Already leading through Raul Meireles's 29th-minute strike, it spelled the end of North Korea's last-16 hopes, substitute Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago rounding off a 7-0 win. A point against Brazil on Friday will guarantee Portugal's progress.

Torrential rain failed to dampen Portuguese celebrations at full time but, having survived a scare when Ricardo Carvalho headed a corner against the post, North Korea almost did early on in Cape Town. Playing with adventure and purpose, Cha Jong-Hyok went close from distance and Hong Yong-Jo's drive forced a save as the underdogs knocked on the door. Then Meireles slipped in the back way, timing his run to perfection and firing in Tiago's fine pass.

It brought palpable relief for Queiroz, and Meireles should have made it two before the interval after a defensive mix-up – he screwed wide. Simão made no such mistake eight minutes after half-time, driving through Ri Myong-Guk's legs after Meireles and Almeida combined on the edge of the box. From then on it was one-way traffic. Three minutes later Hugo Almeida, selected ahead of Liedson, headed in a fine hanging cross from the excellent Fábio Coentrão.

The only previous time these sides met, in the 1966 World Cup, the result was what Eusébio would come to describe as "the greatest match of my footballing career" after he struck four as Portugal came from 3-0 down to win 5-3. There was never a hint of a repeat and Tiago made it 4-0 on the hour as he converted Ronaldo's centre. Liedson added a fifth nine minutes from time and Ronaldo, who had earlier grazed the bar, tapped in his first international goal in 16 months. Tiago's second of the game – a header – wrapped things up.