(Asiad) N. Korea clinches knockout berth in men's football with win over Pakistan

By Yoo Jee-ho

HWASEONG, South Korea, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea secured a spot in the round of 16 in the Asiad men's football competition with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Pakistan on Thursday.

So Kyong-jin converted a first-half penalty and Jong Il-gwan added an insurance marker in the second half as North Korea clinched the first place in the three-team Group F at Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, south of the Asiad host of Incheon.

North Korea had earlier defeated China 3-0 to begin the tournament on Monday.

There are 29 teams in action in the men's football component in the Asiad, divided into five groups of four and three groups of three. The top two countries from each group will make up the round of 16.

Pakistan and China will clash in the Group F finale on Monday to determine who will join North Korea in the knockout round.

On Wednesday, the South Korean men's squad also reached the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia, its second straight victory. South Korea had taken down Malaysia 3-0 and will face Laos later in the final Group A match.

Against Pakistan, the North Koreans didn't quite have the bounce to their steps that they had in the convincing win over China. A dull start saw few chances over the first 20 minutes.

Then in the 28th, Jong Il-gwan found himself alone with the ball on the left side of the box after goalkeeper Muzammil Hussain mishandled a shot, but the North Korean midfielder airmailed it.

The next minute, Ri Hyok-chol got off a solid shot after taking a pretty feed from midfield, and Hussain was up to the task.

North Korea got a break in the 38th minute, when So Kyong-jin's free kick from outside the box went off an elbow of Mansoor Khan in the box. The Pakistani forward picked up his second yellow card and an automatic ejection from the match.

So then stepped up to take his own penalty and made it 1-0.

North Korea displayed a bit more oomph in the second half, with So threatening to score for the second time in the 61st minute.

Jong Il-gwan doubled the North's advantage with a diving header in the 67th. Sim Hyon-jin controlled the ball deep in the opposing zone and danced his way past defenders on the right wing before crossing for Sim's head.

North Korea outshot Pakistan 7-2.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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