South Korea debutant Lee Jeong-hyeop proved the matchwinner in tonight's final Asian Cup group game with Australia.

South Korea defeated Australia 1-0 to claim the top seed in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup.

Forward Lee, in his first international start, scored the winner in the 32nd minute with a deft redirection of a pass by Lee Keun-ho deep in the Australian zone. It was South Korea's third straight 1-0 victory at the continent's top tournament.

The Socceroos had a string of good chances through strikers Tomi Juric and Nathan Burns but were unable to find a way through. Against the run of play, the winner came from Lee as he timed his leap to perfection, meeting a penetrating cross from Lee Keun-Ho to flick the ball past Mathew Ryan.

Australia should have at least salvaged a draw, but wastefulness in front of goal scuppered their hopes of topping Group A and puts them on a collision course with holders Japan if the teams make the semi-finals.

The hosts now face the tournament's surprise package China PR in a quarter-final, also in Brisbane, on Thursday.

South Korea will take on either Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, in the group's dead rubber, Abdul Al Maqbali struck with a second-half header as Oman beat Kuwait 1-0. Both teams had already been eliminated.