*** ----> Iraq through, N. Korea out | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Iraq through, N. Korea out

ManamaIraq last night were ensured a place in the quarter-finals in the AFC U-19 Football Championship in Bahrain following a 4-0 victory against North Korea at the National Stadium in Riffa.

After a goalless first half, second-half goals from Waleed Kareem (63rd and 65th minutes), Mazin Fayyadh (54th minute penalty) and skipper Alaa Abbas (79th) secured a second win in as many matches in Group B and face Vietnam in its final match.

North Korea on the otherhand crashed out of the tournament after a second consecutive defeat, having lost their opener to Vietnam.

In the same group, Vietnam held the UAE to a 1-1 draw and inched closer towards securing one of the top two positions from this group.

Ho Minh Di (21st) gave Vietnam the lead but Hussain Abdulla (58th) equalised from the penalty spot.

In Group C, Qatar and Japan boosted their qualifying chances in Group ‘C’. Qatar, the defending champions, grabbed a tough 1-0 win over Yemen for their maiden victory thanks to a goal from Abdulrasheed Umaru in the 83rd minute and Japan beat Yemen 4-0 as the latter bowed out of the competition.

Meanwhile, tournament action continues today with two matches in Group ‘D’ as Tajikistan (0 points) face China (0) in a must-win situation at 4.30pm at the National Stadium and Ujbekistan (3) take on Australia (3) at 7.30pm at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.