North Korea edge through to last eightNorth Korea 2-2 Thailand
Japan 2-1 Saudi Arabia
North Korea scraped through to the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC U23 Championship after a 2-2 draw against Thailand.
The result meant North Korea finished as the runners-up in Group B despite not winning a game. They will face host nation Qatar in the last eight at Al Sadd Stadium on Friday.
Kim Yong Il put North Korea in front after 17 minutes at Grand Hamad Stadium. Narubadin Weerawatnodom equalised for Thailand on the half-hour mark before an own-goal from Thossawat Limwanasa put North Korea back in front. Thailand captain Chanathip made it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go but it wasn’t enough to take his nation through to the knockout rounds.
Three Group B teams – North Korea, Thailand and Saudi Arabia – were in with a chance of joining Japan in the quarter-finals going into this afternoon’s games.
Japan had already confirmed their place in the knockout rounds after winning their opening two games, and they made it three out of three with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia at Qatar Sports Club. Ryota Ohshima and Ideguchi Yosuke scored for Japan, while Abdullah Madu replied for Saudi Arabia.
Japan’s victory meant North Korea, Thailand and Saudi Arabia all finished on two points. North Korea and Saudi Arabia had identical records but North Korea went through after scoring five goals in the games between the sides which finished on two points, while Saudi Arabia only scored four.
South Korea confirm top spot in Group C
South Korea 1-1 Iraq
Yemen 1-3 Uzbekistan
South Korea drew 1-1 with Iraq to qualify for the quarter-finals as Group C winners.
Both teams went into the game at Grand Hamad Stadium on the back of two wins out of two.
Due to their superior goal difference, South Korea needed only a draw to confirm top spot. And they did just that after taking the lead in the first half through Kim Hyun. Iraq pressed for an equaliser throughout the second half but only managed to draw level in the 92nd minute when Amjed Hussein poked the ball home from close range.
The result means South Korea will face the Group D runners-up in the last eight on Saturday, while Iraq will take on the Group D winners.
In the other Group C match on Tuesday Uzbekistan beat Yemen 3-1 at Qatar Sports Club. Jovokhir Sokhibov, Igor Sergeev and Jaloliddin Masharipov scored the goals for Uzbekistan, while Ahmed Al Sorori grabbed a consolation for Yemen.
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