Former champions Iraq and Saudi Arabia carved out convincing victories over Malaysia and Vietnam respectively in their last league engagements on Friday to enter the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation Youth Championship.
In a Group D league match, Iraq scored thrice in the second session to blank Malaysia 3-0.
Also read: China, Australia in quarter-finals
Mansor Mohammed (55th minute), Hameed Aqeel (81st) and Khshen Ala'a (83rd) scored for Iraq, in the match at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bangalore.
The Malaysian lads called the tune initially but messed up scoring chances in the 20th and 24th minutes.
Although Iraq also squandered a couple of chances in the first half, they combined well later.
In the other match, at the Bangalore Football stadium, Saudi Arabia defeated Vietnam 2-0, scoring once in each half.
Saudi captain Albishi Jufain Ali put his team ahead in the 14th minute from a penalty kick, and in the dying minutes Al Bishi Mohammed was on target.
Japan will clash with Saudi Arabia and DPR Korea will take on Iraq in the quarter-finals, to be played on November 6 in Bangalore.