North Korea lose match but win tournament

Doha: North Korea continued their 2010 World Cup preparations by winning a four-team invitational tournament in Qatar despite losing their final match 1-0 to Iran.

A draw between the hosts and Mali in the earlier match meant North Korea could afford to lose to Iran on Saturday having recorded victories in their opening two games. Mehrzad Madanchi scored the winner for Iran, lobbing a shot home in the 42nd minute to give his side a timely boost ahead of a key Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore on Wednesday.North Korea finished on six points from three matches ahead of Qatar on four, then Mali (4) and Iran (3).The North Koreans will next month head to Sri Lanka for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup where the winners of the region’s second-tier tournament qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup. North Korea have been drawn with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast for only their second World Cup campaign. Bureau Report