China secured an Asian Cup quarterfinal spot yesterday when it beat Uzbekistan 2-1.

The Chinese top Group B with six points from two games and, with Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia each on three points and meeting in the last of the preliminaries, are assured of making the knockout stage.

Uzbekistan opened the scoring against the run of play midway through the first half when Odil Ahmedov cut in from the left, steadied and fired in a right-foot shot from 25 yards which deflected off China defender Wu Xi and looped inside the far post.

Wu made up for it when he equalised 10 minutes into the second half, and Sun Ke, who came on in the 66th minute, made an angled run from the left two minutes later and struck from the edge of the area to seal the comeback win.

China play the winless North Koreans in Canberra on Sunday when 2011 semifinalist Uzbekistan and three-time champion Saudi Arabia will be playing in Melbourne for the group’s other quarterfinal slot.

Saudi Arabia had a 4-1 win over North Korea earlier in the day, keeping its chances alive. 

“I’m happy we won the game and also we had a good performance,” Saudi Arabia coach Cosmin Olaroiu said. “Now we have to forget it quickly to prepare for the next game against Uzbekistan.”