JINAN, China, July 27 (AFP) - South Korea finally hit form in the Asian Cup on Tuesday, demolishing Kuwait 4-0 to confirm their place in the quarter-finals.
The 2002 World Cup semi-finalists, needing to finish top of their group to avoid a likely clash with Japan in the next round, struck three times in the first half through a Lee Dong-Gook brace and a 20-yard curler from Cha Du-Ri.
An audacious strike by World Cup hero Ahn Jung-Hwan wrapped up the scoring on 76 minutes.
The scintillating performance and scoreline were a welcome boost for South Korea who had failed to impress in their 0-0 draw with Jordan and a scratchy 2-0 win over UAE.
Kuwait, the 1980 champions, sparked belatedly into life in the second half but could manage little more than a series of half-chances.
Nawaf Al-Mutairi was denied by imposing Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae on 50 minutes while Bashar Abdullah, Kuwait's top scorer in qualifying, saw a couple of shots saved.
South Korea, largely keeping faith with the line-up which beat UAE, had already put the game out of reach of the inexperienced Kuwaitis with a dominant first-half performance.
Lee, top scorer at the last Asian Cup, struck his second and third of the current tournament within 16 minutes, curling a free-kick past Kuwaiti goalkeeper Shebab Kankone on 25 minutes before tapping in a Park Jin-Sub cross.
Cha, who had missed a couple of early chances, opened his Asian Cup account in emphatic style with a 20-yard curler on the stroke of half-time.
A rare first-half chance at the other end finished with Bader Al-Mutawa's yellow card for diving.
Ahn, brought on for Lee early in the second half, took Kuwaiti 'keeper Kankone completely by surprise with a snap shot from wide on the right which crept in at the near post.
South Korea must now await the result of Wednesday's Group D matches, where Japan play Iran and Oman take on Thailand, to discover their quarter-final opponents.
Meanwhile Kuwait's first-round exit dents the proud Asian Cup record of the Gulf nation who have failed to progress only three times in eight appearances.