Abu Bak (L) of Malaysia competes against Kamaleddin Kamyabinia (C) of Iran at the men's football 1/8 final match 39 during the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 15, 2010. -Photo by AFP

GUANGZHOU: Four-time champions Iran beat a depleted Malaysia 3-1 to make the Asian Games quarter-finals on Monday where they were joined by Oman who trounced Hong Kong 3-0.

The Iranians are seasoned Asiad campaigners, having won the competition in 1974, 1990, 1998 and 2002 before missing out four years ago when Qatar claimed the title on home turf in Doha.

They used the experience to good effect against a Malaysian side making its first appearance in the second round since 1978.

Malaysia came into the game in crisis after three players were sent off in their stormy 3-0 defeat to China in their final group game.

It left coach Rajagobal Krishnasamy fuming at the referee and with a badly depleted team but they admirably kept Iran at bay in the first half.

The Iranians though upped the tempo after the break and it was only a matter of time before they got the breakthrough, which came in the 53rd minute when Karim Ansari Fard picked the ball up on the edge of the box and rifled it past the diving goalkeeper.

It rattled the Malaysians and Seyed Hosseini made it 2-0 seven minutes later before Amir Sharafi added a third as Iran ran their opponents ragged.

Malaysia got a consolation penalty four minutes from time but it was too little too late.

Iran now play Oman for a place in the semi-finals after the Gulf side overran Hong Kong.

Ali Farah Hadhri Hussian scored their first on the half hour and he added another in the second half before Aman Bait Nasib put the game beyond Hong Kong’s reach with a third on 68 minutes.

Defending champions Qatar play Uzbekistan later Monday while hosts China face a stern test against South Korea. -AFP