Afif to Lee Kang-in: Five players who lit up Asian Cup group stage

AFP Sports picks out five players who lit up the group phase:

Aymen Hussein (Iraq)

Iraq have been among the standout teams so far and largely have Hussein to thank. Five goals from three matches have put the 27-year-old two clear in the race to be top-scorer. He netted both in Iraq's 2-1 win over favourites Japan as the Lions of Mesopotamia strutted out of Group D with three wins.

The Air Force FC striker cuts an imposing figure at six feet and two inches (1.88m). With his side 1-0 down against Vietnam at the interval, he came off the bench for an eventful second half: scoring, missing a penalty, then showing the nerve to step up for a second penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time. He converted and Iraq won 3-2.

Lee Kang-in (South Korea)

Jurgen Klinsmann has made Lee the linchpin of his side and the Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder has repaid his coach's faith at the Asian Cup. The 22-year-old outshone his captain Son Heung-min with two goals in South Korea's opening 3-1 win over Bahrain and forced an own goal against Malaysia with a brilliant free-kick.

South Korea have not fully convinced in Qatar and they face a crunch last-16 showdown with Roberto Mancini's Saudi Arabia next. But with Lee pulling the creative strings and providing a shooting threat from long range, they could finally claim the trophy for the first time since 1960.