Published: 10:55 AM, 01 October 2026
Bae fires South Korea into Asian Games soccer final with 2-1 win over China
South Korea's Bae Jun-ho struck late as they came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory ?over China on Wednesday and reach a record fourth successive Asian Games final in men's soccer.
The defending champions will bid for an unprecedented fourth straight gold medal in Saturday's final at Toyota stadium against Japan or Uzbekistan.
Another South Korean gold would bring their players an exemption from the country's compulsory military service for ?adult males as Asian Games champions.
They have stand-in captain Eom Ji-sung to thank for ?reaching the final as he set up goals for Bae and Lee Young-jun.
Bae volleyed home in the 82nd ?minute from next to the far post after latching onto a long, lofted cross from Eom, who ?stepped up to replace injured skipper Lee Gi-hyuk.
Bae said he and Eom had plotted the winning goal at halftime when the game was level at 1-1.
"I knew he was going to go for the far post and that's ?why I ran behind the left back," Bae told Reuters.
"He called to me and then I ?scored. Beautiful pass, it was really easy to score."
Lee earlier headed in Eom's corner after 33 minutes to cancel out China ?forward ?Wang Yudong's opening strike.
China bowed out from their first Games semi-finals in 28 years with some regret, having gone one step further as under-23 Asian Cup runners-up in January.
Midfielder Xu Bin said Chinese soccer was still moving in the right direction after decades of stagnation.
"There are more young players like me ?carving out careers in ?Europe," the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder ?told Reuters.
"They're going overseas and experiencing a higher level of football."
Defender Peng Xiao missed a golden chance to put the Chinese ahead for a second time ?in the 62nd minute when a poor clearing header landed at his ?feet right ?in front of goal but his low shot fizzed wide of the left post.
The Koreans flirted with disaster in the 79th minute when a diving Lee nearly headed a cross into his own net, the ball flashing by ?the ?post.
Minutes later, Bae gave them breathing room, though, by slamming ?in their second goal.
"We were expecting it to be a challenging match but we persevered," said South Korea coach Lee Min-sung.
"I'm ?very happy with the result."
>>Reuters
