There was an enforced change for Saudi Arabia head coach Marcos Soares with Saleh Barnawi suspended as Saud Harun filled in at the back while Farhah Al Shamrani slotted in behind Talal Haji in attack.

DPR Korea made four changes of their own from the side that lost to Jordan on Sunday with the focus being in attack as Ri Jong Dok, Kim Jin Song, Kim Hyon Jun and Rim Ryong were given starts.

Saudi Arabia went close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute after Sung Hak Myong lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, which ended with Saad Haqawi’s curling shot tipped over the bar by Hong Kil Ryong.

The electric pace of Jong Dok helped DPR Korea take the lead in the 28th minute when he beat goalkeeper Hamed Yousef to the ball and laid it back for Han Jae Yong to loop a perfect long range attempt into an unguarded goalmouth.

Saudi Arabia emerged after the interval with renewed determination and it took them only six minutes to find the equaliser after Amar Al Yuhaybi’s cross was turned in by Haqawi.

It was a game that swung end to end with Choe Kuk’s fantastic strike bouncing off the crossbar in the 65th minute before Kim Se Jin’s square pass rolled across Saudi Arabia’s goalmouth with no DPR Korea player able to accept the invitation.

DPR Korea’s profligacy in front of goal was to be their undoing as Saudi Arabia completed the comeback with five minutes of regulation time left. 

A quick break saw a two versus one situation as Haqawi’s perfectly placed square pass was swept home by substitute Thamer Al Khaibari to take the West Asians through to the knockout stage.