Yang Min-hyeok sets up gold-winning goal v Japan, then apologises

📰 Tottenham's Yang Min-hyeok set up the winner as South Korea won Asian Games gold, but apologised for comments about military-service exemption after the game. 📌 Key points 🥇 South Korea's U-23 side beat Japan 1-0 in the final. 🏆 It is the first time the men's football team have won four Asian Games titles in a row. ⚽ Yang won the ball and delivered the cross for the winning goal. 🗣️ His post-match remark that he had played only for the military-service exemption caused controversy. 🙇 Yang apologised on social media the next day, saying it was his fault. 📝 What happened 🏟️ Lee Min-sung's side beat Japan 1-0 in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games final at Toyota Stadium in Japan on the 3rd. It is the third tournament in a row in which they have beaten Japan in the final. ⚽ In the 61st minute, Yang won the ball on the right with aggressive pressing and crossed into the box, where Eom Ji-sung beat a defender and finished with his left foot. 🗣️ According to Money Today, Yang drew criticism after saying in the mixed zone, in effect, that medals and trophies did not matter and he had played only for the military exemption. 🙇 On the 4th, Yang apologised on social media, saying it was clearly his fault for making the gold medal seem less meaningful and that he had no intention of mocking those who fulfil their military service. 📊 By the numbers • Final: South Korea 1-0 Japan • Winning goal: 61st minute • Four consecutive Asian Games men's football golds 🔭 Why it matters The gold medal earns Yang a military-service exemption, opening the way for him to play in Europe for longer. However, the controversy over his comments has overshadowed the joy of his first senior title. The challenge now is to win back trust through his performances at his club, Westerlo.