The Socceroos’ quest to win the Asian Cup on home soil has become more difficult, after a 1-0 loss to South Korea in Brisbane saw them give up first place in their group.

Ange Postecoglou’s side only needed a draw to qualify as Group A winners, and the coach rested Tim Cahill, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie from his starting line-up.

But Australia was undone by a 32nd-minute goal from Lee Jung-hyub.

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The Socceroos will remain in Brisbane for a likely quarter-final against China next Thursday.

Postecoglou deployed Cahill, Leckie and Kruse late before a sell-out 48,513 crowd at Suncorp Stadium but they couldn’t conjure a magical escape.

The Socceroos crafted genuine chances – six shots on goal to South Korea’s three – on a steamy night when the Brisbane lights attracted swarms of moths, with officials using vacuum cleaners to rid them from benches pre-game.

But the main thing that bugged the Australians was conceding in the 32nd minute when sliced open by some Korean class.

South Korean captain Ki Sung Yueng turned past Ivan Franjic before a perfectly-weighted through pass found space for Lee Keun Ho, who aimed at goal from an acute angle.

His shot was going close but diving Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan seemingly had it covered, until a sliding Lee Jeong-hyeop got his studs to the ball, deflecting it under the Socceroo.

Just four minutes later, the hosts went agonisingly close to equalising – so close, stadium operators thought they had, flashing a goal sign on the big screens and the crowd erupted.

In fact, James Troisi’s left footer on the turn – coming after a daring Massimo Luongo run down the flank – had hit the side netting.

It was among many opportunities the Socceroos had for equaliser but the Koreans banked a win to remain unbeaten and book a Melbourne quarter-final against either Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia.

The Socceroos’ chances aplenty included striker Tomi Juric, in the 53rd minute, just metres from goal failed to control the ball with the inside of his boot, spraying it wide.

Forward Nathan Burns also threatened in the 70th minute when he tore through the visitor’s defence and blasted a right-footer, forcing a top-shelf save from Korean keeper Kim Jin-hyeon.

Burns was then substituted for Cahill, with Leckie and Kruse coming on in the 10 minutes prior.

Kruse had a gilt-edged chance to square the scores in the 88th minute when closing on goal with just the keeper to beat but Jin-hyeon produced another fine save.

Australia’s night was further tarnished when centre-back Matthew Spiranovic copped a yellow card – his second of the tournament, meaning he will miss the quarter-final.

– with AAP