Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Canberra: Midfielder Sun Ke’s brace saw quarter-final bound China complete their first-ever 100 per cent record in the group stages of the AFC Asian Cup, after the Group B winners edged DPR Korea 2-1 at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
Match highlights: China 2-1 DPR Korea
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With hosts Australia awaiting in Thursday’s quarter-final at Brisbane Stadium, China were set on the way within the first minute by Sun, before he added his second shortly before the interval.
A Gao Lin own-goal did see DPR Korea pull one back and So Hyon-uk hit the frame of the goal late on as the Chollima pressed hard for an equaliser, but China were eventually able to see out the third straight win of their AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 campaign.
Both sides had entered the final round of fixtures with their destiny’s already confirmed with China guaranteed to top the table following wins over Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, while DPR Korea’s campaign had been prematurely ended following defeats by the same opposition.
And China coach Allain Perrin stuck to his promise of going for a third successive win by selecting eight of the side who started in the 2-1 win over Uzbekistan, amongst them match-winning substitute Sun making his first start.
For DPR Korea, midfielder O Hyok-chol and defender Ro Hak-su lined-up for the first time with Ri Yong-jik suspended after his sending off against Saudi Arabia in the 4-1 defeat on Wednesday.
Canberra Stadium had seen the UAE’s Ali Mabkhout score the AFC Asian Cup’s fastest ever goal after 14 seconds in the previous fixture against Bahrain and Australia’s capital was witness to an explosive start for a second consecutive match.
Mei Fang’s long ball up from the back was not dealt with by the DPR Korea backline and Sun nipped in to tuck the ball between the legs of DPR Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk within the game’s opening minute.
Emboldened by the early lead China dominated for large periods of the first half, although DPR Korea did have a few efforts from distance with O Hyok-chol and Jon Kwang-ik having a go from range.
And on 39 minutes, Jong Il-gwan had a glorious chance to equalise after his give-and-go with O Hyok-chol saw him put through on goal but the stretching striker could only lift his shot well over Wang Dalei’s crossbar.
The miss was costly as just three minutes later China went two up with Sun again on the scoresheet. Jiang Zhipeng found himself in space on the flank and his curling cross from the left-side was met with a diving header from Sun at the back post that Ri couldn’t keep out.
The advantage could have been three just before half-time, too, as Yu Hai’s chipped effort lofted over Ri but not Jon on the line who cleared.
In the second half, though, DPR Korea came out determined to haul themselves back into the game and they reduced the deficit 11 minutes after the restart.
Pak Kwang-ryong’s cross reached Jong in the right-hand side of the area and although the striker’s shot was blocked on the line by Zhang Linpeng, the defender’s attempted clearance ricocheted off the back of the unsuspecting Gao and into the net.
And Jong could have made the scores even just two minutes later as he met full-back Ro’s cross with a leaping header from the penalty spot but his attempt soared narrowly over.
DPR Korea continued their second half renaissance and on the 81st minute a scooped pass from Sim Hyon-jin was met on the volley from second-half substitute So and his pile driver from 25-yards out crashed off the crossbar with Wang beaten.
Jo Tong-sop’s side continued to press China in the final minutes but they were unable to make a breakthrough and exited the tournament pointless for the first time in their AFC Asian Cup history.
Photo: WSG