Brazil were made to work hard before eventually defeating North Korea in their Group G opener.

The five-time world champions were expected to comfortably brush their less-illustrious opponents aside on a chilly night inside Johannesburg's Ellis Park.

North Korea, who were playing in their first World Cup finals game since 1966, had not read the script as they held the pre-tournament favourites to a goalless first half.

Brazil boasted a host of star name attacking players with Kaka, Robinho, Elano and Luis Fabiano all included in the starting line-up.But rather than cut through the North Korean defence with ease from the opening whistle, they were forced to go for goal from distance with a strong of wayward long-range shots.

The closest they came to breaking the deadlock before the break was in the 34th minute when the lively Robinho teed up Michel Bastos with a neat piece of skill but the attacking full-back's left-foot shot from the edge of the box was deflected over the crossbar.

Dunga, the Brazil coach, resisted the temptation to make changesat half-time despite the frustration clearly growing and the 2002 World Cup winners slowly improved as the second period wore on.

Robinho dragged his right-foot shot wide after a Kaka chest down before the deadlock was finally broken in style after 55 minutes.

Maicon looked set to send over a cross after charging through the penalty area but the Internazionale right-back produced an outrageous piece of skill to squeeze a shot from an impossible angle between the keeper and his near post to open the scoring.

Brazil had their tails up and Bastos stung the palms of the keeper with a powerful shot from the corner of the penalty area before Luis Fabiano lashed a rising shot from 12 yards over the crossbar after taking the ball down on his chest.

A second goal did arrive in the 72nd minute when Robinho and Elano combined to devastating effect.

Robinho scythed open the defence with an inch-perfect angled through ball and Elano picked out the far corner of the net with a composed side-foot finish.

To North Korea's credit they refused to throw in the towel and Ji Yun-Nam fired home a consolation effort in the 89th minute.

Young-Hak Ahn headed down a long free-kick into his path and the midfielder skipped past one tackle before lashing the ball past the diving Julio Cesar to ensure his side emerged from an opening defeat with genuine credit.