Mixed fortunes for
N Korea, Afghanistan

There were contrasting fortunes for North Korea and Afghanistan as both countries embarked on a new era in international competition in the Asian Games football tournament.

North Korea, who are taking part in a major sporting event south of the border for the first time, beat Hong Kong 2-1 in their Group F opener, thanks to an 82nd minute winner from striker Hong Yong-jo at Changwon Stadium in Pusan.

But Afghanistan mounted little resistance against defending champions Iran as they were hammered 10-0 on their first appearance at the Asian Games since Hiroshima in 1994.

North Korea barely threatened in the first half but they took the lead in the 59th minute when midfielder Han Song-chol pounced on a loose ball after Jon Yong-chol had hit the post.

Poon Yiu Cheuk equalised for Hong Kong with a well struck free-kick in the 67th minute but North Korea had the final word as Hong conjured up space on the edge of the box to fire a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Meanwhile, striker Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht scored five as Iran crushed Afghanistan to spoil their return to the Asian Games football competition after a 48-year absence at Gudeok Stadium.

Iran ran riot in the second half, scoring seven times with veteran forward Ali Daei coming off the bench in the 66th minute to score the final two in a one-sided group E opener.

"I was satisfied with the way the players performed today. But we came here hoping to win matches, so I have to be disappointed with the result," said Afghanistan coach Mir Ali Asgar.

UNCONVINCING JAPAN

In other matches, second-half goals from substitute Tatsuya Tanaka and Yuichi Nemoto gave unconvincing Japan a 2-0 victory over the Palestinians in group D.

Tanaka broke the deadlock for Japan in the 67th minute with a superb right-foot shot from 20 metres moments after midfielder Yoshito Okubo had missed a penalty at Yangsan Stadium.

Japan, who sent their under-21 team to South Korea, secured a two-goal cushion 10 minutes before the end.

Naohiro Ishikawa broke free down the left and when his cross was blocked by goalkeeper Yousf Parpkh, Nemoto was there to stroke the ball into the empty goal.

Japan coach Masakuni Yamamoto said: "I wanted to try a few different things today and we got the three points we wanted. We are basically here to get experience for Athens, so I have to be happy with the result."

The World Cup co-hosts have never won the Asian Games, which have been switched to an under-23 format this year to bring the competition in line with the Olympics.

The Palestinians arrived here with four of their 20-man squad still stranded in the West Bank under an Israeli curfew.

In the other group D match, Bahrain ran out surprising 3-0 winners over Uzbekistan at Changwon Stadium.

Meanwhile, midfielder Nasrat Al-Jamal snatched a late equaliser as Lebanon salvaged a 1-1 draw with Qatar in group E, while Kuwait thrashed Pakistan 6-0 in group F.