Brazil broke down some stern North Korean resistance to win 2-1 with second half goals from Maicon and Elano in their World Cup Group G match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The North Koreans organised a solid rearguard and it took an extraordinary goal from Maicon to pierce it, the right back firing in a fierce shot from the acutest of angles in the 55th minute as he spotted keeper Ri Myong-guk off his line.
Seventeen minutes later Elano made it two, sidefooting home after Robinho's penetrating pass through the defence but, to general surprise, the North Koreans broke away to score a late goal from Ji Yun-nam in the 89th minute.
Earlier Portugal and Ivory Coast drew nil-all in another Group G game in Port Elizabeth.
