North Korean media reported Wednesday that the its team put up a "fierce" fight in its first World Cup match in 44 years, complimenting the players for their dogged performance, shortly after North Korea's 1-2 defeat to Brazil.
The North Koreans "created scoring chances without losing faith despite trailing 0-2" until Ji Yun-nam delivered a goal in the 88th minute, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a five-paragraph report from Pyongyang.
"The match was a fierce exchange of offense and defense from the beginning," it said, adding Ji received a header from striker Jong Tae-se to connect his goal against five-time champion Brazil.
The isolated North is in Group G with Brazil, Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) and Portugal, considered the toughest draw in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. North Korea had made a splash by reaching the quarterfinals in the 1966 England World Cup.
Earlier this week, a pro-North Korean newspaper reported from Pyongyang that the country is swept with football fever with its people riveted by television sets showing World Cup specials.
North Korea, ranked lowest among this year's World Cup participants, is set to play against Portugal early next week.