Japan, Iran and Kuwait, as top team of each group, advanced to the quarterfinals at the Asiad soccer tournament Saturday as Bahrain and DPR Korea slid into the last eight with their advantaged clean goals.

Striving for a berth in quarterfinals, Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 with its only goal from Nakayama Satoshi in the 39th minute.

With three straight wins, Japan collected nine points to take on China for the last four on October 8. Japan lost 1-0 to China in a friendly game at Shanghai, China, in August.

Iran was forced to a 1-1 tie by Qatar, but gained enough seven points to advance to the last eight thanks to Lebanon, who held Qatar 1-1 last week.

Iran's next opponent in the quarterfinals is Kuwait, who beat DPR Korea 2-0 on Saturday to advance as top team of Group F.

Bahrain blanked Palestine 5-0, taking five clean goals to advance as the best second team from the six groups.

After three rounds games, four teams from the six groups collected six points. Second to Bahrain's five, DPR Korea gained the other quarterfinal berth as the best second team with four clean goals.

India and Oman had to face their elimination with the same six points but less clean goals.

In the other games played Saturday, Lebanon crushed Afghanistan11-0 and Chinese Hong Kong outplayed Pakistan 3-0.

Bahrain meets South Korea when DPR Korea takes Thailand in the next round on October 8.

( October 6, 2002)