Hamedan: Captain Kim Pom-hyok scored second goal in as many matches of the AFC U-14 Championship as DPR Korea edged hosts Iran 1-0 in a Group A encounter on Wednesday.

 In the match played in front of strong host nation’s supporters, Kim slotted home a 25-yard freekick which decided the fate of the match.

With the win DPR Korea are almost certain of making it into the semi-final with six points from two matches. Iran, who had defeated Saudi Arabia in their first match, are still occupying the second position despite suffering defeat as they had defeated Timor-Leste who earlier stunned Saudi Arabia.

“After analysing the matches so far, I still believe that Iran are strong will make it through alongside us from Group A,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Chol-jin after the match.

“I thought it would be very difficult for us to beat the hosts but at the end of the day, we were clinical and our defenders did not give them chances so I was relaxed and did not have to make numerous changes during the match.

“Those boys who were not used will be fresh in upcoming matches,” he added.

Like the previous match against Saudi Arabia, DPR Korea relied on long balls and pile drivers and one of those from captain Kim reached the destination.

After DPR were awarded with a freekick, the dead-ball specialist took the charges and left the diving Iran goalie Meraj Esmaeili hapless as early as in the eighth minute.

Iran coach Heidar Sharifi was quick to defend his goalkeeper who, with the proper judgement, could have saved the ball.

“He was outstanding today,” said Heidar.

“There are mistakes even at the top level, you have to remember some brilliant saves he made today.

“We are not done yet, we have a match in hand and I am sure we will defeat Saudi Arabia and progress.

“In fact, I’m taking this defeat as a blessing in disguise as the young boys knew that how difficult it is to lose a match, we will rebound,” he stressed.