MELBOURNE: Super-sub Sun Ke fired China into the Asian Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday as North Korea crashed out and Jordan fumed over a botched dope test that left a player ill.

Sun’s superb solo effort after 68 minutes, moments after coming on, gave China a pulsating 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan and sent them into the knock-out stages for the first time since 2004.

China coach Alain Perrin promised to crack open some expensive bubbly later back the team hotel as his players celebrated by diving into ice baths after securing top spot in Group B.

“I will open maybe two bottles of good champagne,” beamed the Frenchman. “I think I will ask my players to join us.”

However, there was bitter disappointment for North Korea, who scored their first Asian Cup goal for 23 years but still lost 4-1 to Saudi Arabia and were eliminated.

Away from the pitch, Jordan lodged a formal protest after claiming a bungled doping procedure had left one of their players vomiting, in a “semi-coma” and suffering with hypothermia.

Striker Ahmad Hayel could miss the game against Palestine Friday after he was made to drink “several liters of water” as he tried to provide a urine sample following Monday’s 1-0 defeat by Iraq, according to the Jordanian FA.

Asian Cup organizers insisted the correct protocol had been followed as they also busied themselves putting out fires after several refereeing controversies.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who launched a scathing attack on match officials after his side’s 2-0 win over Bahrain, reacted sarcastically after being asked by the Asian Football Confederation not to comment on referees in his official news conferences.

“I don’t know if we’re entitled to give opinions about refs,” said the former Real Madrid manager, dubbed “Rottweiler” by former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson during two spells as assistant at Old Trafford.

“After 32 years of my work in football I was never told I cannot give an opinion about the game.”

It was a red letter day for the Chinese, runners-up in 1984 and again as hosts in 2004 and now suddenly dark horses for a first Asian Cup title.

China did it the hard way, going behind to Odil Ahmedov’s deflected shot after 22 minutes.

They dragged themselves back into the match, however, Wu Xi equalizing with a sharp finish 10 minutes into the second half before Sun’s cracker triggered wild celebrations on the Chinese bench.