In the World Cup Football going on in South Africa, Brazil recorded a 2-1 victory over North Korea in their opening Group G match in Johannesburg last night. The five-time champions struggled to get past the defensive set up of the North Koreans till half-time.Maicon scored the first goal for Brazil in the 55th minute. Elano then added to the lead in the 72nd minute after a well-timed pass from Robinho. Ji Yum Nam pulled one back for North Korea in the 89th minute. The victory gives Brazil first place in the group with three points. Earlier in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, Portugal began their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against a spirited Ivory Coast in Group G. In the Group F encounter in Rustenburg, Slovakia and New Zealand played a 1-1 draw. Robert Vittek's header gave the lead for Slovakia in the 50th minute. But New Zealand stunned their rivals with the equaliser through Winston Reid in the last minute of added time. The draw enabled both teams pick up their first ever point.Three matches are scheduled for Wednesday in the 2010 FIFA Cup. In Group H fixtures, Honduras meet Chile in Nelspruit at 1700 hours and Spain face Switzerland in Durban at 1930 hours. In the third match, hosts South Africa are slated to play against Uruguay in Pretoria at Midnight.