Paulo Bento vows to show his football philosophy in S. Korea coaching debut

South Korea's new men's national football team head coach Paulo Bento said Thursday that he is ready to display his football philosophy in his debut match. Bento, who was appointed as the men's national football boss on Aug. 17, will make his South Korean coaching debut on Friday when the national team takes on Costa Rica in a friendly match at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul. The kickoff time is 8 p.m. "I'm happy and positive that I can now play with the South Korean national team," Be

Sept. 6, 2018

Korea U-23 football coach says team didn't talk about military service during Asian Games

South Korea's under-23 football coach, Kim Hak-bum, said Thursday he didn't talk about military service exemption with his players during the 18th Asian Games. South Korea defended their Asiad men's football title, beating Japan 2-1 in the final at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, on Saturday. With their gold medals, 20 South Korean footballers, including Son Heung-min, earned exemption from mandatory national duty.  (Yonhap)All healthy South Korean men between 18 and 35 must ser

Sept. 6, 2018

Injured goalkeeper taken off national team for friendlies

Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was removed from the national soccer team for a pair of September friendlies on Wednesday with a knee injury sustained during the Asian Games.　The Korea Football Association said Jo will not dress for new head coach Paulo Bento when South Korea hosts Costa Rica on Friday and Chile next Tuesday. Jo was South Korea’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, which concluded Sunday, and helped the country to a second straight gold medal.　Jo suffered an injury to

Sept. 5, 2018

Korea confirm football friendlies with Uruguay, Panama, Uzbekistan

South Korea will play friendly football matches with Uruguay, Panama and Uzbekistan later this year, the national football governing body said Tuesday.The Korea Football Association said South Korea, now led by new head coach Paulo Bento, will face Uruguay on Oct. 12 and take on Panama four days later. Both matches will be held at home, but the exact venues will be decided later. The KFA added South Korea will meet Uzbekistan in Brisbane, Australia, on Nov. 20, three days after they play against

Sept. 4, 2018

U-23 football team players return to heroes' welcome with Asiad gold

INCHEON -- South Korea's under-23 national football team players returned to a heroes' welcome Monday after winning the gold medal at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The 20-player team, led by head coach Kim Hak-bum, received a warm welcome from hundreds of fans at Incheon International Airport. The players and coaching staff took a group photo with their gold medals before they disbanded.  (Yonhap)South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time to claim their Asiad men's football title. Lee Seu

Sept. 3, 2018

Korean goalkeeper eyes European career after winning gold

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- After winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo has unveiled his next goal going forward: playing with European clubs. South Korea took the gold medal in men's football at the 18th Asian Games after edging Japan 2-1 in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Indonesia, on Saturday. For Jo, the gold medal has opened the door for him to Europe. Jo, who is now with South Korean club Daegu FC, rose to international stardom through the 20

Sept. 2, 2018

[Newsmaker] With gold, Son Heung-min on course for bright future

Mission accomplished. Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has secured himself a bright future following South Korea's gold medal victory at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday. South Korea beat Japan 2-1 in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, and defended their Asiad title. This means Son has cleared what could be the biggest obstacle in his career: military service. All healthy South Korean men between 18 and 35 must serve about two years in the armed forces. But ath

Sept. 2, 2018

S. Korean attacker says football gold 'meaningful' to all

South Korean football attacker Lee Seung-woo said his side's gold medal victory at the 18th Asian Games on Saturday will be meaningful to all the players for their future careers. South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time to defend their Asiad men's football title at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta. Lee broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute, in the first period of extra time, to give South Korea the lead. South Korea later doubled their advantage with a Hwang Hee-chan header.

Sept. 2, 2018

Striker becomes fan favorite in South Korea's gold medal run

Before the 18th Asian Games, Hwang Ui-jo was not a fan favorite.  But now at the end, he has become a hero for South Korea.South Korea successfully defended their Asiad men's football title on Saturday after beating Japan 2-1, thanks to goals from Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Hee-chan.  Although he didn't score a goal in the final, Hwang was still pivotal for South Korea's gold medal run at the 18th Asian Games.He completed the competition as the top scorer with nine goals, including two hat tricks. 

Sept. 2, 2018

S. Korean football coach says gold medal victory made by players

South Korea's under-23 national football team head coach Kim Hak-bum on Saturday gave all credit to his players for winning the men's football gold at the 18th Asian Games. South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in extra time at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, south of Jakarta, to top the men's football competition. It was a back-to-back title for South Korea after winning the competition four years ago. "This good result is made by our players," Kim said. "And there are players who trained with us, but

Sept. 2, 2018

Not perfect, but S. Korea get job done in men's football

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

Sept. 2, 2018

S. Korea beats Japan 2-1 to claim gold in men's football, players avoid military service

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'

Sept. 1, 2018

S. Korean women collect 3rd straight bronze in football

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

Aug. 31, 2018

Son Heung-min vows to return Tottenham with gold, military service exemption

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

Aug. 31, 2018

Korea face Japan in men's football final

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

Aug. 31, 2018

Vietnam vs South Korea: clash of the coaches

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

Aug. 29, 2018

Football coach in awkward position as Vietnam face his home country in semis

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

Aug. 28, 2018

Korea beat Uzbekistan 4-3 in extra time to reach men's football semifinals

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

Aug. 28, 2018

Korean striker justifying selection with goal poaching instinct

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

Aug. 27, 2018

Paulo Bento arrives in Korea to lead national football team

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

Aug. 20, 2018