It was do or die for both teams in this quarterfinal decider, with Uzbekistan needing to deny their opponents a win to book their spot in the knockout stages.

An all-important brace for Sardor Rashidov was the difference between the two sides as he set his nation up for a quarterfinal clash with Group A winners South Korea.

Things could not have started better for the Central Asian's at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with re-called 23-year-old Rashidov netting inside two minutes.

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi pulled three-time winners Saudi Arabia level from the penalty spot on the hour mark but parity was restored just 11 minutes later when substitute Vokhid Shodiev nodded in Shavkat Mullajanov's right wing cross.

Rashidov sealed the win just 10 minutes from time as he slotted a shot past the exposed Waleed Abdullah from inside the penalty area to double Uzbekistan's lead and hand 2007 finalists Saudi Arabia a second consecutive group stage exit.

Sun Ke's brace gave China their first ever 100 per cent group stage record at the Asian Cup ©Getty Images



Two first half goals by midfielder Sun Ke ensured China remained top of Group B and sealed the nation's first ever 100 per cent record in the group stages of the Asian Cup.

A near sell-out crowd were not left disappointed at Canberra Stadium as Ke opened the scoring within the opening minute against North Korea.

A long ball by Mei Fang was not dealt with by the North Korean defence and Ke nipped in to tuck the ball between the legs of North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk.

The lead was doubled just three minutes before the break as Jiang Zhipeng's whipped cross was met with a diving header by Ke at the back post.

Winless North Korea came out kicking in the second half as they looked to salvage something from an otherwise fruitless Asian Cup campaign.

A Gao Lin own goal 11 minutes after the restart gave the North Koreans hope, however, So Hyon-uk's 25-yard volley onto the crossbar was as near as they would come to an equaliser as China held on for a 2-1 victory.

They will now face Australia in the quarterfinals on Thursday (January 22).

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