China downs DPRK 2-1 to cruise to last eight with 9 points

Sun celebrates after scoring his quick-fire opener. [Photo/IC]

Sun doubled the advantage for China on 42 minutes with a diving header at the far past following Jiang Zhipeng's well-curved left wing cross. It's his third goal of the tournament and the 25-year-old attacker can compete for the golden boot prize of the tournament. Now Jordan's Hamza Al Dardour leads the scoring table with his four goals in Jordan's 5-1 crush over Palestine. If Sun could do more in their quarter-final clash with Australia, he may catch or surpass Al Dardour's record.

The Koreans pulled one back in the 57th minute. Midfielder Jong Il Gwan rounded Jiang Zhipeng after receiving Pak Kwang Ryong's left wing center at the far post and his low drive was wrongly cleared by the Chinese defenders on the goal line, the ball bounced back to the empty net after Zhang Linpeng slided it to hit striker Gao Lin. Jong could have levelled the score if his dipping header two minutes later following Ro Hak Su's cross went a little bit lower. And the lively attacker missed another at the beginning of the second half when his bullet shot was parried by a focused keeper Wang Dalei.

China coach Alain Perrin brought on most of his major lineup for the game, although China have secured the top place after two victories over Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, and the Frenchman's players controlled the first half with much more possession and threats. Left winger Yu Hai's smart lobbing shot in a tight angle before the end of the break seemed to be goal-bound, but a DPRK defender headed the ball out timely on the goal line.