Um Ji-sung of Swansea City led South Korea to its first-ever fourth consecutive gold medal in men's soccer at the Asian Games, also claiming both the top scorer and most assists titles.
The South Korean U-23 soccer team, managed by Lee Min-sung, defeated Japan 1-0 in the final held at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, Japan, on October 3.
This victory marks South Korea's fourth consecutive gold medal, following wins in Incheon in 2014, Jakarta-Palembang in 2018, and the 2022 Hangzhou Games held in 2023. The team has now increased its total gold medal count in men's soccer at the Asian Games to seven.
Um was pivotal to this success. As a wildcard player over the age of 24, he played a crucial role in every match. He showcased his skills in the opening group match against Qatar, scoring a hat trick in the first half to lead South Korea to a 4-1 victory.
He then focused on assisting his teammates, contributing one assist each in the group stage matches against Saudi Arabia (2-0 win) and Vietnam (4-0 win). Notably, in the semifinal against China, he provided two assists, helping the team come back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1.
In the final against Japan, Um again emerged as the key player. In the 61st minute, with the score tied at 0-0, he scored the decisive goal. After a cross from Yang Min-hyuk on the right side, Um calmly evaded a defender and found the net with a left-footed shot, securing the gold medal for his team.
With this goal, Um finished the tournament with four goals, solidifying his position as the top scorer. He also recorded the most assists in the tournament with four, earning him both the top scorer and most assists titles.
His leadership on the field was also evident. When team captain Lee Gi-hyuk was injured and unable to play in the semifinal against China, Um stepped up as the acting captain. He took over the captain's armband again in the final when Lee was substituted early in the second half.
This victory also grants Um military service benefits. Playing for Swansea City in the English Championship, he can now continue his career in Europe with greater stability.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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