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, the-afc.com reported.

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.

And it was a player making his first start of the tournament, Abdugani Kamolov, who carved out the first chance on goal on 25 minutes with a penetrating cross from the right that Mukhammadali Nomozov mistimed with the goal gaping.

Shukhrat Nematov then passed up an even easier opportunity shortly before the interval.

The forward did the hard work by surging into the penalty area and rounding DPR Korea ‘keeper Jang Paek-ho, but after being forced wide he failed to steer the ball home and allowed a grateful custodian time to recover the ball.

Yun Jong-su decided to change things up in the second half as he brought on forward Ri and talented midfielder Kye.

But it was Uzbekistan who took the lead four minutes into the second half via the boot of the unlikeliest scorer on the field, goalkeeper Umrzakov.

Collecting the ball within his own penalty box, Umrzakov launched a huge kick down field that bounced over attackers, defenders and Jang alike.

The goalkeeper desperately made chase back to his own line but slipped on the wet surface and watched the ball agonisingly roll into the net.

And just after the hour, substitute Yuldoshov doubled the score as he broke into the area, rounded Jang, and slammed the ball home for his third of the tournament.

The forward then could have netted the side’s third but this time Jang got the better of the one-on-one scenario.

However, the DPR custodian was helpless to prevent Ganikhonov’s 68th minute goal that did make it 3-0 on the night as a defensive mix-up saw the ball fall to the forward who drilled past an exposed Jang.

Ri went close to reducing the deficit almost immediately after but saw his rising drive from 18 yards out tipped over the bar by Umrzakov.

The substitute didn’t miss a second time with 15 minutes remaining as he scored from close-range following Kye’s low cross.

And Ganikhonov could have made it 4-1 inside the final 10 minutes after Doniyor Abdumannopov put him through on goal but this time the forward hit the foot of the right-hand upright and the ball bounced to safety.