Jo got his side off to a dream start with a strike on four minutes to give DPR Korea an early lead before the same player doubled the advantage on the 38th minute to put the East Asian two goals to the good at half-time.

Although Uzbekistan looked for an instant reply following halftime, in a blistering nine minute second-half spell the game was all but over.

With Jo completing his treble on 65 minutes before Kim and So netted in swift succession to take the lead to five goals and seal the fate of the 2012 semi-finalists, who had reached the final four with an unbeaten record.