By DPA,
Doha: Karim Ansari Fard’s second-half goal was enough to see Iran on Saturday become the first country to advance to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup football with a 1-0 victory against North Korea.
The victory sees Iran top Group D with six points from their two games, while North Korea have one after having played two matches, but retain their chance of advancing to the second round.
The United Arab Emirates also have one point from one game, while Iraq have no points from their opening game.
“We are happy that we are through to the next round. Now we can concentrate on the quarter-finals,” Iranian midfielder Javad Nekonam said.
“But we still want to win the last group game and then we want to go on and win the cup.”
With the majority of the 6,500 fans in the 12,500-seater Qatar SC stadium edging Iran forward, it was North Korea who enjoyed most of the opening play.
They had the first chance of the game when a well struck free-kick from some 30 metres out from Mun In Guk found its way through the Iranian wall, but was blocked by goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati.
In the 26th minute the World Cup finalists had another chance after a break down the right hand side saw Mun cross the ball into the middle of the area, where it was intercepted just in time to deny Pak Nam Chol a chance to shoot.
Just a minute later Iran had the ball in the back of the net through Ansari Fard, but the referee penalized the forward for a push and then booked him for dissent.
Iran finally achieved their breakthrough in the 62nd minute when a Pejman Nouri cross found an unmarked Ansari Fard, who volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk.
North Korea tried gamely to get back into the game and were unlucky not to force an equalizer in the first minute of second-half injury time when Hong Yong Jo’s shot glanced off the crossbar and bounced out of play.
Later Saturday title holders Iraq, who lost their opening game against Iran 2-1, take on the United Arab Emirates in the Al-Rayyan stadium with their backs to the wall.