OTTAWA — North Korea and Panama played to 0-0 draw Saturday in the opening game of Group E at Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium.

North Korea was making its first appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup while Panama, was appearing for the third time, but was still looking to pick up its first points.

The teams had to be content with settling for a point apiece after a match that started slow, but later came to life on an overcast day in Canada's capital.

The atmosphere for the match was much the same.

When it kicked off shortly after 4:30, less than half of the stadium was occupied despite a sellout of its 26,659 tickets for the venue.

Many fans were stuck in large security lineups outside the entrance gates while others arrived late, presumably saving their energy for the Argentina-Czech Republic match to follow since the light blue and white jerseys of the Argentines numbered in the thousands by the time the stadium finally did fill.

Through the opening minutes of the match, neither North Korea nor Panama did much to thrill the crowd anyway.

It wasn't until midway through the first half that the North Koreans began to press, forcing Panama 'keeper Luis Mejia into a series of saves.

Choi Myong Ri fired in a free kick that took a deflection off a defender and needed to be parried away by Mejia, who then stopped Kuk Jin Kim and Choi Min Jong from close range. Jong also fired narrowly wide when he latched onto a loose ball just yards from goal.

It continued that way into the second half and Mejia needed to come up with a diving stop deny another header from close range.

Panama showed plenty of skill on the ball, but produced little offensively.

Substitute Luis Ovalle had a good chance from just outside the penalty area in the 69th minute following a North Korea turnover, but fired wide.

Ri let loose with a shot from distance moments later only for Mejia to once again come up with a diving stop.

North Korea next faces the Czech Republic on Tuesday, while Panama meets Argentina.