After captain Hong Yong-Jo squandered an eighth-minute penalty, the UAE relentlessly attacked the disorganised East Asian side, firing off 23 shots, including five on goal, against six for the Koreans.
"After failing the penalty shot, the players could get no goals as they were psychologically very tense," said North Korean coach Jo Tong-Sop."Because it was our first match, the players could not display all of their skills and abilities. But just about 80 percent."
UAE coach Srecko Katanec meanwhile rued the lack of sharpness in his strikers, who wasted a plethora of chances in the scoreless draw.
"I'm satisfied with the way we played. The players showed character, nice skills," Katanec said.
"Unfortunately, we created a lot of chances but we didn't score. This is the problem," added the Slovenian who took the UAE job in mid-2009.
"This problem in this area has been there for a long time. Our strikers in the league, they don't play. They don't care too much about practice. But I can't change it here a lot."
North Korea, who were 1980 Asian Cup semi-finalists, badly needed three points for their bid to reach the knockout stage in only their third appearance on the continent's big stage and their first since 1992.
In their next match on Saturday, the Chollima (flying horse) face three-time winners Iran who beat old foes Iraq 2-1 in their opening Group D match on Tuesday.
"I know Iran and Iraq are stronger than the UAE," said Jo, who took over the job from his former boss Kim Jong-Hun after North Korea bowed out of their first World Cup in 44 years last June without a point.
"We have the analysis of the weaknesses of these two teams. We'll try to use that and try to earn good points, win points in the remaining matches."
The 51-year-old admitted his side could not play in their collective style based on airtight defence with Japan-born Bochum striker Jong Tae-Se and Hong spearheading their attack.
"In the second half, we tried not to concede a goal. We were focused on our defence and tried to score on the counter-attack. But physically the players still did not play well," the coach said.
"We have experience from this game and so we will do our best in the next two games."
Jong, who has scored eight Bundesliga goals for Bochum since moving there after the World Cup, did not have the opportunities as his side remained mostly on the defensive.
Still hampered by a nagging knee problem, the 26-year-old former J-League Kawasaki Frontale striker was substituted in the 83rd minute.
"I substituted him not because of the injury but because he had spent a lot of energy," the coach said.
Jong, known as the "People's Wayne Rooney" for his combative style, similar to the England and Manchester United star, told reporters: "We had two chances but we lost them. But we tried hard and played a good game.
"My condition is not good at all. I need to improve it step by step and I will do," he added. "I'm very happy to be here because some people told me before the Asian Cup that I could not take part in this tournament."
The German second-division side had initially refused to release him for the continental showpiece because North Korea's football association failed to submit a request for his international call-up before the formal deadline.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20110112/twl-n-korean-footballers-sticking-to-the-3cd7efd.html
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