DPR Korea were the early aggressors, but it was Jordan who scored in the sixth minute through Sabra, who latched onto a neat little flick from Burhan Fakhoury and first-timed a thundering shot from the edge of the box past diving DPR keeper Hong Kil Ryong. 

DPR Korea’s Kim Se Jin then had a chance to equalise in the 14th minute, but with only a defender in front of him, ballooned his shot from outside the box over the post.

Teammate Hong Paek Hyon saw his half-volley in the 26th minute just going wide of the right post and captain Choe Kuk suffered the same fate in the 29th minute, when his close-range header - off an assist from Paek Hyon - went over the bar.

At the other end of the pitch, midfielder Yousef Qashi made numerous attempts at goal, but saw his shots either blocked or going way off target. 

Jordan almost netted a second right before the break, but Sabra’s close range effort deflected off defender Kim Jin Won’s outstretched leg and went sailing over the bar. 

Play swung from end to end after the break, but poor finishing from both sides ensured the score stayed the same until the 70th minute when Sabra secured his second by nudging the ball past defender Sung Hak Myong and into an empty goalmouth.

DPR Korea were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute after a foul on Ri Jong Dok, and while keeper Salameh Ali Salman went the right way, he failed to get his hand to Ri’s shot.

Jordan almost claimed their third in the final minutes, when Anas Al Khab ran down the left and went around a defender, but saw his shot from an acute angle hit the woodwork.

DPR Korea meet Saudi Arabia in their last group match while Jordan play Iraq on Wednesday.