The China Mail - Incensed North Korea briefly refuse to play in bitter Asian Cup loss

Wang Shuang's controversial close-range finish in first-half injury time in rainy Sydney turned out to be the winner and means reigning champions China topped Group B ahead of North Korea.

China's reward is a likely meeting with Vietnam or Taiwan in the last eight, while North Korea will have to face the Australians and a partisan home crowd.

Three-time former champions North Korea took the lead on 32 minutes when Kim Kyong Yong's shot squirmed under the body of goalkeeper Chen Chen.

China hit back two minutes later when Chen Qiaozhu struck left-footed from outside the box and into the bottom corner.

With the rain pouring down and neither side giving an inch in a physical battle, China went ahead through former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham attacker Wang in first-half stoppage time.

Her predatory finish was initially ruled out for offside by the on-field assistant referee, only for VAR to overturn the decision and award the goal.

Wang celebrated for a second time but the North Koreans were furious, imploring the referee to look at the pitch-side monitor.

Then came a standoff with the North Koreans refusing to resume the game for four minutes as boos rang out from the pro-China crowd.

With their protests continuing and after booking coach Ri Song Ho, the referee decided against playing the little time left in the half and blew for the break.

North Korea came out for the second half and thought they had equalised with 10 minutes left, only for VAR to give offside.

In the other match in Group B, Uzbekistan thrashed tournament debutants Bangladesh 4-0 to keep their hopes alive of reaching the knockout rounds as one of the two best third-placed teams.

R.Yeung--ThChM