Sun Ke scored twice to steal the show again as China defeated North Korea 2-1 in Canberra on Sunday to register his nation’s best ever start to an Asian Cup.

The in-form Sun, who netted a stunning winner against Uzbekistan, opened the scoring after just 45 seconds when he pounced on a hopeful long pass to poke the ball home.

He grabbed his third of the tournament shortly before the break, heading home a cross by full-back Jiang Zhipeng that delighted the majority Chinese crowd at Canberra Stadium.

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The brace repaid Alain Perrin’s decision to start the winger after his goal off the bench against the Uzbeks sent China into the knock-out stages for the first time since 2004.

China, which was already assured of top spot in Group B and a Brisbane quarter-final against Australia, has now won its first three Asian Cup games for the first time.

North Korea made it 2-1 in the 56th minute when Jong Il-Gwan’s weak shot was cleared off the line by Zhang Linpeng, only for it to bounce back in off striker Gao Lin.

The Koreans, who have not won an Asian Cup match since 1980, should have equalised just seconds later when an unmarked Jong headed over from close range.

A dogged North Korea pushed for a leveller and had a large crowd of 18,457 on their feet when substitute So Hyon-Uk crashed a powerful volley against the crossbar with 10 minutes remaining.

But after some late pot-shots and an injury-time header saved by goalkeeper Wang Dalei, China held on for a win which underlines their form ahead of the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan progressed to the knockout stages with a 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Melbourne.

Going into the game, Saudi Arabia was in pole position with the better goal difference, needing only a draw to advance to the last eight.

However the Green Falcons’ defence let them down, repeatedly caught out by their opponents.

The match was barely 90 seconds old when Saudi Arabia gave away possession in its own half, allowing Sardor Rashidov to race into the penalty area and slot the ball between the legs of hapless keeper Waleed Abdullah to make it 1-0.

The Saudis had the advantage in possession for most of the match, but they could not take advantage until the 60th minute, when they were awarded a dubious penalty for a foul in the box.

Mohammed al Sahlawi stepped up and scored from the spot, to put his side back in charge of its own destiny.

Ten minutes later, however, the Uzbeks hit back – the ball was crossed in from the right, and Abdullah was nowhere near at as substitute Vokhid Shodiev powered a header into the net to make it 2-1.

Uzbekistan made sure of the points with 11 minutes left, when the side burst free down the Saudi right, and centred the ball to Rashidov, who placed a great finish wide of Abdullah for his second of the night.

The win gave Uzbekistan second place in the group, and a quarter-final clash with Group A winners South Korea.