HE DID IT! Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min earned two assists as South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time in the finals of the Asian Games football tournament in Indonesia on Saturday. Lee Seung-Woo and Hwang Hee-Chan both scored in the first half of extra time for the Taeguk Warriors, with Sonny assisting both, and Korea hung on after a late goal from Japan. The win is is huge because it earns the entire Korean squad — including Sonny — an exemption from two years of mandatory military service. This was Sonny’s last chance to get an exemption, and he left everything on the field. The match was a cagy one in regular time, with Korea going on the attack and Japan content to sit back and absorb pressure. It reminded me a lot of watching any Premier League team play against Burnley. Asian Games golden boot winner Hwang Ui-Jo went close in the first half and there were numerous missed opportunities by Korea whose finishing failed them. This wasn’t exactly a Mourinho-school bus parking exhibition, though, as Japan had a number of good opportunities on the counter. Korea’s defense rose to the challenge and was able to block or save all of Japan’s biggest opportunities. Both of Korea’s goals came in the first half of extra time. After a broken corner, Son had the ball in the box and tried to take a touch towards the spot, but his toe poke instead found Lee Seung-Woo with a nifty little pass and Lee buried the ball in the back of the net. Korea’s second came courtesy of an absolutely immense long header from Hwang Hee-Chan, one that even Harry Kane would’ve been impressed with. It looked like Korea were on their way to a comfortable win, but Japan managed to claw a goal back in the second half of extra time and nearly got the equalizer in the 115th minute, but Korea was able to scramble it away. Sonny came off in Korea went into time-wasting mode after that and was able to hold off the Blue Samurai to secure the win. The win will send Son Heung-Min back to Tottenham Hotspur extremely tired, but also extremely happy. After everything he’s endured, nobody deserves this more and you could see what it meant to him. This is a mammoth result for Sonny, and nobody deserves it more than he does! Take a bow, Son Heung-Min and South Kore!<doc-sep>Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min's professional career received a boost in the form of military exemption when South Korea won the Asian Games soccer gold on Saturday. Substitute Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Hee-chan scored in extra time after a barren regulation time to help South Korea retain their title with a 2-1 victory against arch-rivals Japan. Ayase Ueda reduced the margin for Japan with five minutes left in extra time but his side could not find the equaliser to take the match to penalties. All able-bodied South Korean men must complete 21 months service in the military as a deterrent against the North, but exemptions are offered to athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or a medal of any colour at the Olympics. Son, who captained South Korea as one of the over-aged players in the under-23 competition, had a role in both goals.<doc-sep>The 26-year-old captained his side to continental success at the tournament, earning him a reprieve from the mandatory national service Son Heung-min has won gold with South Korea at the Asian Games, making the Tottenham winger exempt from military service. South Korea made beat Japan 2-1 in the final on Saturday thanks to extra-time goals from Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Hee-chan to finish first place for the first time since 1986. The Tottenham forward was apologetic for missing the start of the Premier League action to feature in the Under-23 tournament in Indonesia, but the club gave him permission to go knowing a gold medal would seal his release from mandatory service for his country. Athletes who win gold at the Asian Games - silver or bronze is not enough - are exempt from the service, which lasts at least 21 months, meaning it was a narrow escape for captain Son and his team-mates. Round by round the pressure has increased for Son and his team-mates and it showed in the final as they took their time to break down Japan. South Korea dominated the opening half and saw Hwang Ui-jo waste a glorious chance to break the deadlock, and their profligacy continued after the restart. Son was guilty of failing to take clear-cut chances, and when he turned provider Ui-jo, the tournament's top scorer, was again unable to convert. Article continues below An extra 30 minutes was needed to separate the two sides and fittingly the Spurs star was at the heart of securing South Korea's triumph. The 26-year-old embarked on a mazy dribble three minutes into extra time before a heavy touch ran to Seung Woo-lee, the winger lashing home from inside the box. Another Son delivery helped wrap things up, Hwang Hee-chan heading home to secure the gold medal - despite Ayase Ueda's late consolation - and all-important exemption from national service.<doc-sep>Son Heung-min captainted South Korea to Asian Games glory (Picture: Reuters) Son Heung-min has earned military exemption after South Korea saw off Japan with a 2-1 victory in the final of the Asian Games. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was facing the possibility of losing the forward for 21 months, with all South Korean men legally required to carry out military service before the age of 28. However, after a goalless 90 minutes in the final, Son set up Lee Seung-woo three minutes into extra-time and the Hellas Verona winger found the net with a composed finish. South Korea doubled their lead just six minutes later as Son registered another assist with a free-kick towards the back post. Hwang Hee-chan headed home Son’s pinpoint cross to put Paulo Bento’s almost out of sight. The Spurs forward grabbed two assists versus Japan (Picture: Reuters) Ayase Ueda pulled one back for Japan to set up a tense finish but South Korea were able to hold on for the win. The celebrations from Son and the rest of the South Korean squad probably summed up how Tottenham fans felt after the final whistle. Just look at his face… MORE : Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp reacts furiously to Alisson error against Leicester City<doc-sep>
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min secured an exemption from military service – along with his South Korea teammates – when they beat Japan to win gold in the Asian Games football tournament. After a goalless 90 minutes, substitute Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Hee-chan scored in extra time to help South Korea retain their title with a 2-1 victory against Japan. With Japan 2-0 down, Ayase Ueda reduced the margin with five minutes remaining, but they could not find the equaliser to take the match to penalties. All able-bodied South Korean men must complete 21 months of service in the military as a deterrent against the North, but exemptions are offered to athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or a medal of any colour at the Olympics. Son, who captained South Korea as one of the over-aged players in the otherwise under-23 competition, had a role in both goals. Lee’s first goal came when he planted his drive into the top of the net from a Son lay-off. Hwang’s pinpoint header from Son’s corner eight minutes later doubled South Korea’s lead though Japan refused to give up. The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. Son was substituted seconds before the final whistle only to run back on the field in jubilation to celebrate the victory, which has huge ramifications for his career. He made one appearance from the bench for Spurs before linking up with South Korea’s Games squad and was immediately congratulated by his club on Twitter after the final.