30 PORPRK Pozo

 

Portugal defeated DPR Korea, having led one-nil at halftime, they added a further six goals in the second period; an unfortunate choice for the leadership of autocratic North Korea, who determined that this should be the first game televised live across the country there. 

A repeat of their 1966 quarterfinal between these two it was not, as the ultra-defensive strategy the East Asian nation employed against Brazil fell apart here when they began to chase the game in the second half.

A week later than planned, Pablo Pozo from Chile could finally initiate his World Cup. This game required the referee to be enthusiastic, which Pozo did, and he offered a good performance overall. This showing, unlike the referee in DPR Korea's previous match, didn't however offer a great resume to be taken further. 

All of Pablo Pozo's four cautions were credible (slow play, close-ish to SFP foul, late foul after advantage, dissent), but they were also coherent with the deficiencies he showed in managing the game (11', 57', 83') and the players (34', +47', 70'). 

Chilean showed to be a solid referee overall, but I sensed quite an isolated man on the pitch, who could be in trouble in charge of a tougher game. FIFA, it seems, and I, saw Pozo in (more-or-less) the same light. 

His assistants didn't have their best afternoon - tight and important mistake by Francisco Mondría at 9' (- 0,2), and a rather poor one by Patricio Basualto at 28' (- 0,2). 

Pablo Pozo - 8,3 Patricio Basualto - 8,2 Francisco Mondría - 8,2 Jerome Damon Enock Molefe  CHI – RSA	Portugal 7-0 DPR Korea Group Stage 21 June
Mendes (38') - Tackle Almeida (70') - Dissent	Pak Chol-jin (32') - Delaying the Restart Hong Yong-jo (47') - Tackle