China secured an Asian Cup quarterfinal spot yesterday when it beat Uzbekistan 2-1.

The Chinese top Group B with six points from two games and, with Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia each on three points and meeting in the last of the preliminaries, are assured of making the knockout stage.

Uzbekistan opened the scoring against the run of play midway through the first half when Odil Ahmedov cut in from the left, steadied and fired in a right-foot shot from 25 yards which deflected off China defender Wu Xi and looped inside the far post.