AFC U-19 C'ship 2016 Qualifiers - Group H: MD4

Having previously beaten Singapore 6-2 and Chinese Taipei 7-1, the Koreans wasted little time in finding the net once again when defender Choe Ik-jin grabbed his first of the game to open the scoring in the third minute.

Kim Moo-gun, Kwon Gip-yo and another from Cheo then added to the Koreans’ tally to hand head coach An Ik Soo’s charges a healthy 4-0 lead at half-time.

The same pattern was to continue in the second period as Jeong Tae-wook extended his side’s lead within 60 seconds of the restart, before Kim Si-woo opened his account three minutes later and Jeong made it 7-0 in the 54th minute.

Kim Geo-nung piled on the misery for Northern Mariana Islands with a goal on 68 minutes ahead of a Kim Si-woo penalty and hat-trick goals from the excellent Jeong and Cheo.

In the day’s later game Thailand striker Ritthidet Phensawat opened the scoring against Singapore in the 34th minute to settle any nerves there may have been among the home supporters at the SCG Stadium.

Fellow forward Suksan Mungpao then stretched Thailand’s lead in the 42nd minute to secure a more comfortable lead going into the break.

Thailand’s victory was effectively sealed seven minutes after the restart, captain Worachit Kanitsribum scoring to complete a valuable win for the ASEAN powerhouse which sees them occupy second spot in the group behind Korea Republic on goal difference.

In Tuesday’s final group games, Chinese Taipei will face Singapore, while Korea Republic are set to play Thailand in a showdown for top spot.  

Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams).

If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (6th) second-placed team will qualify for the final competition