North Korea carried on 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 before match meant North Korea could afford to lose to Iran on Saturday accepting recorded triumphs in their opening two bets on.

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 completed on six points from three matches before of Qatar on four, then Mali (4) and Iran (3).

The North Koreans will next month head to Sri Lanka for the Asian Football confederacy Challenge Cup where the winners of the area second-tier tournament qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.

North Korea have comprised drawn with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast for only their second World Cup campaign.

Source : Yahoo! sport