Uzbekistan advance to quarter-finals as Group D winners

Both sides had secured places in the last eight with a game to spare after wins over Yemen and Thailand, but there was still top spot in Group D to play for and it was, improbably, Uzbekistan goalkeeper Jasurbek Umrzakov who opened the scoring at GMC Stadium on 49 minutes.

Rasul Yuldoshov increased the lead on 61 minutes before Ibrokhim Ganikhonov added a third not long after. 

Ri Kang-guk did pull one back for DPR Korea but Uzbekistan were able to see out the match and book a quarter-final clash with Group C runners-up Iraq, while DPR Korea will meet Group C winners Oman. 

Proceedings began on an even albeit slightly disjointed footing with several new faces in the line-ups for the two teams including rests for star players Kye Tam of DPR Korea and Uzbekistan's Yuldoshov.