It turned out that painful defeat against Malaysia was really a precaution. South Korea defended their men's football title at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday after beating Japan 2-1 in extra time. It was their fifth gold medal in Asiad men's football, the most of any Asian nation. South Korea's gold run in Indonesia was never perfect. At Incheon 2014, South Korea became champions without suffering a defeat or conceding a goal, but this time, they took a bumpier road. Kim Hak-bum's side were th

CIBINONG, Indonesia -- South Korea beat Japan 2-1 to defend their men's football title at the Asian Games on Saturday.Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Hee-chan scored a goal apiece in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, to help South Korea earn a gold medal at the 18th Asian Games. This was the first time that South Korea and their archrivals Japan had gone head-to-head in the men's football final at the Asian Games. South Korea have now accomplished back-to-back titles in men'

South Korea won bronze in women's football at the 18th Asian Games on Friday. (Yonhap)The Taeguk Ladies beat Chinese Taipei 4-0 at Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, Indonesia, the co-host city of the Asian Games with Jakarta, to take third place in the women's football competition.  It was South Korea's third straight bronze at the Asian Games. The women's team also finished third at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014. South Korea have yet to play in a final of the Asiad women's football compe

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean forward Son Heung-min said Friday that he is determined to return his English Premier League club with an Asiad gold medal.  (Yonhap)Son's South Korea will take on Japan in the men's football final at the 18th Asian Games at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Indonesia, on Saturday. South Korea are looking to defend their men's football title.For Son and his South Korean teammates, winning the final is more than just getting a gold medal. It will also give them exemp

JAKARTA -- South Korea will take on Japan to defend their Asiad title in men's football on Saturday. It will be the first time the two rivals have gone head-to-head for gold medal in men's football at the Asian Games. South Korea are powered by a formidable attacking corps led by Hwang Ui-jo, the competition's top scorer with nine goals, and Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, who has been serving as the team captain.  (Yonhap)It will attract the attention of world football fans interested in

HANOI, Vietnam (Viet Nam News) -- Fans are chomping at the bit to witness the clash between Vietnam and South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Games 2018 on Wednesday.Vietnam’s head coach Park Hang-seo hails from South Korea, and the match has been billed as a derby between two South Korean coaches.Vietnam enjoyed an historic 1-0 win against Syria in their quarterfinal on Monday, while South Korea beat Uzbekistan in a 4-3 thriller.After beating Uzbekistan and before the Vietnam game had been

BEKASI, Indonesia -- Vietnam football coach Park Hang-seo found himself in an awkward position after his side beat Syria 1-0 in their quarterfinal match at the 18th Asian Games on Monday.Vietnam edged out Syria, thanks to Van Toan Nguyen's winner in the second period extra time at Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, east of Jakarta. Park is a South Korean. And with Vietnam's latest win, Park will have to face his home country in the semifinal at Pakansari Stadium in Cinibong, west of Jakarat

BEKSASI, Indonesia -- South Korea beat Uzbekistan 4-3 in extra time to reach the men's football semifinals at the 18th Asian Games on Monday. Hwang Hee-chan scored the winning penalty, in addition to Hwang Ui-jo's hat trick, to help South Korea's under-23 side knock out Uzbekistan in a thrilling men's football quarterfinal match at Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, east of Jakarta.The defending champions will next face Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium in Cinibong, west of Jakarata, on Wednesda

BEKASI, Indonesia -- South Korean striker Hwang Ui-jo once again proved his worth at the Asian Games after scoring three goals and earning a penalty to send the men’s under-23 football team to the semifinals at the continental event on Monday.  South Korea reached the semifinals of the men’s football tournament after edging out Uzbekistan 4-3 in extra time at Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, east of Jakarta. South Korea are now two matches away from defending their Asiad men’s football ti

INCHEON -- Portuguese tactician Paulo Bento arrived in South Korea on Monday to lead the country's national football team. Bento landed at Incheon International Airport with his backroom staff -- chief assistant coach Sergio Costa, assistant coach Filipe Coelho, goalkeeper coach Vitor Silvestre and fitness coach Pedro Pereira -- to lead the South Korean men's national football team.The 49-year-old was unveiled as head coach of South Korea on Friday. (AFP)"It's an honor to be in South Korea," Ben

South Korea beat the Maldives 8-0 in their women's football match at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia on Sunday.   Son Hwa-yeon scored a hat trick at Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, Indonesia, to lead South Korea to the quarterfinals regardless of their final Group A match against Indonesia on Tuesday. South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in their opening match on Thursday.   Chelsea Ladies forward Ji So-yun converted the penalty kick in the 25th minute to open the scoring for South K

Son Heung-min's hopes of avoiding military service by securing Asian Games gold suffered a blow Friday as South Korea were stunned 2-1 by minnows Malaysia. (Yonhap)The Tottenham Hotspur forward came off the bench just before the hour-mark but couldn't help the defending champions overturn a two-goal deficit, after Safawi Rasid's first-half double for 171st-ranked Malaysia.Son is skipping Premier League action for the regional Olympics, where victory would mean an exemption from South Korea's 21

South Korea suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to Malaysia in the men's football competition at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia on Friday.Safawi Rasid scored two goals at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, to stun the defending champions at the Asian Games. With the latest result, South Korea dropped to second place in Group E with one win and one loss. South Korea demolished Bahrain 6-0 in their opening match on Wednesday. Malaysia are in first place with two wins.South Korea will next

South Korea on Friday appointed former Portugal boss Paulo Bento as the new head coach for the men's national football team.Kim Pan-gon, who heads the national team coach appointment committee at the Korea Football Association, said that Bento will lead South Korea through the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.The 49-year-old Portuguese will succeed Shin Tae-yong for the top South Korean football coaching job. This undated file photo taken by the EPA shows Portuguese football coach Paulo Bento, who w

South Korea beat Chinese Taipei 2-1 in their women's football opening match at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia on Thursday.Jeon Ga-eul and Jang Sel-gi scored a goal apiece at Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, Indonesia, to help South Korea to collect their first win in Group A in the women's football competition at the Asian Games.The Taeguk Ladies, led by head coach Yoon Duk-yeo, are looking for their first gold medal at the Asian Games. South Korea took bronze medals at the two previous