Two-time world champions United States lived up to their status as women's World Cup favourites on Tuesday, beating North Korea 2-0 in their Group C opener.
Lauren Cheney opened the scoring for the Americans in the 54th minute and Rachel Buehler doubled the lead after 76th minutes for Pia Sundhage's team.
The Americans top Group C with three points along with Sweden while North Korea and Colombia have zero points.
The Americans next play Colombia on July 2 in Sinsheim while the Koreans face Sweden the same day in Augsburg.
"It feels great to have played the first 45 minutes, to have made some changes at halftime and do very well in the second half," said Sundhage.
"I am happy with how we scored the goals, how we played, and how strongly we defended. It's a good start."
Her North Korean counterpart was happy with the Asians' first half display.
"Today we played the American team and in the first half I think our team was pretty gutsy," said Kim Kwang Min.
"In the second half we didn't have enough strength left and were unable to implement the tactics we wanted to use."
In front of 21,859 at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden American Carli Lloyd had the first chance after 10 minutes with a header off a free kick but Korean keeper Hong Myong Hui was well-placed.
Hong made a better save a minute later from Cheney's long shot as the United States began building up pressure.
North Korea finally had a good chance a minute later but U.S. keeper Hope Solo was well placed at the right post to turn round Kim Su Gyong's attempt for a corner.
The Asians had the most dangerous attack thus far after 38 minutes as Kim passed to Song Jong Sun, who worked free on the right side and got to the touch line before passing across the mouth of the goal.
It beat Solo but there was no Korean there to put the ball away.
Kim made one substitution at half-time, bringing Paek Sol Hui on for Yun Hyon Hi - with Paek moving into the back four and left outside back Ho Un Byol taking a forward position.
The Americans came out after the break showing much more ambition, with Cheney being denied by Hong in the 47th minute.
Shannon Boxx then put a shot just past the far post two minutes later and Abby Wambach finally had a chance, but missed woefully from six yards out after 51 minutes.
North Korea finally succumbed to the pressure when Cheney finally beat Hong to make it 1-0 for the Americans in the 54th minute.
Wambach chipped a ball from the left side over the defence to Cheney, who headed home for her 14th goal in her 40th international.
"When Lauren scored that goal it was like getting the monkey off our backs. We just wanted to score that goal and get it out of the way," said Wambach.
North Korea went close to levelling just two minutes later but Ri Ye Gyong's 16-yard blast struck the crossbar.
The Americans missed a chance to double their advantage after 65 minutes as Wambach's header was deflected by Hong onto the crossbar.
The U.S. finished off their opponents in the 76th minute as Alex Krieger sent a cross from the right which struck the crossbar, the ball rebounded to Buehler, who struck the ball just inside the near post for her second career goal.
By David Hein | AFP News – Wed, Jun 29, 2011
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