DOHA, Dec 6 - North Korea knocked Japan out of the Asian Games and set up a quarter-final clash against South Korea with a shock 2-1 win at the Qatar Sports Club on Wednesday.

Japan's Honda Keisuke (L) fights for the ball with North Korea's Kim Song-chol during their 15th Asian Games Group F second round soccer match in Doha December 6, 2006. [Reuters]

China will meet Iran in the last eight after winning Pool E by beating Oman 2-1 in a ill-tempered encounter during which two of the Omanis were dismissed around half time for pushing Chinese players.

Iran beat India 2-0 to join Qatar, Uzbekistan, Thailand and the North and South Koreans as winners of their respective pools, while Iraq thrashed Malaysia 4-0 to take their place in the quarters as one of the best two runners-up with Qatar.

The hosts will play Thailand in the knock-out stage while Iraq face Uzbekistan.

A sublime free kick from skipper Hong Yong-Jo set North Korea on their way and, after the top spot in Pool F was secured, the 24-year-old was tossed into the air by scores of ecstatic North Koreans who spilled out of the stands.

"I am very happy and pleased that I am able to meet the expectations of the people of my country," said Hong.

Japan had too poor a goal difference to qualify for the last eight as one of the best runners-up in the under-23 tournament.

Qatar was also the site of Japanese soccer's "Agony of Doha" in 1994 when a last-minute Iraqi equaliser prevented the senior team from qualifying for the World Cup finals.

Hong curled his free-kick past the Japanese wall and the despairing dive of Kenya Matsui to give North Korea the lead after just four minutes.

"ADEQUATE MENTALITY"

Chikashi Masuda crossed for defender Yugo Ichiyanagi to head home from point-blank range and level the match three minutes later but Kim Yong-jun put the North Koreans in front for good with another top notch free-kick eight minutes after the break.

"The players must understand that they have to fight first for the country and then for themselves," said Japan coach Yasaharu Sorimachi. "Players cannot go onto the field without adequate mentality."

Oman took the lead against China when Ismail Al Ajmi went down in the penalty box in the 29th minute and Ahmed Al Mukhaini stepped up to covert the spot kick.

China equalised through Gao Lin's diving header in the 42nd minute but the match turned on incidents just before halftime when Fawsi Bashir retaliated to a cuff round the ear from Wang Dalei and the Chinese goalkeeper fell to the ground.

Bashir was dismissed and Al Mukhaini followed him for shoving a Chinese player in the face in a fracas following the half-time whistle, receiving his marching orders as he returned after the break.

Skipper Zheng Zhi put China in front from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half but missed another as China struggled to break down nine-man Oman.

"We didn't play as usual," said China's Olympic team coach Ratomir Dujkovic. "The players are very young, the pressure is high, thank god the match ended with our victory."