'Winning Goal, Top Scorer and Top Assist Provider': Eom Ji-sung Was Perfect — "I Waited for Just One Chance... I'll Never Forget This Gold Medal" [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] "While we kept losing control of the match and were forced to defend, I was waiting for just one chance."
Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City Association Football Club, who scored the winning goal that gave Korean football its fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, admitted that he kept looking for an opportunity without wavering despite the frustrating flow of the game.
After defeating Japan 1-0 to win the gold medal in the men's football final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 3rd, Eom Ji-sung smiled broadly in the mixed zone after the match. "It was a long journey, but we brought it to an end with the result we wanted. I want to tell my teammates how grateful I am and how hard they worked," he said.

With the score tied 0-0 in the 16th minute of the second half, Yang Min-hyeok's (Westerlo) cross was punched away by the Japanese goalkeeper and fell loose. Eom Ji-sung, positioned in front of the goal, calmly evaded a defender and fired a left-footed shot into the net.
Looking back on the goal, Eom Ji-sung said, "Because the goal was open, I thought all the defenders would be drawn toward the shooting motion. I was confident with my left foot, and because I thought the shot might be blocked by the defense, I lifted the ball and struck it. I guess my body just reacted." He added, "I struggled a little in the first half because of the grass conditions and other factors, but I reminded myself that it was important to get the result and that I had to record a goal or assist no matter what. That helped me finish well."

Born in 2002, Eom Ji-sung played in the Asian qualifiers for this year's North and Central America World Cup with the senior national team before joining the Asian Games, an under-23 tournament, as a wild-card player aged 24 or older. Expectations and pressure were high, but he excelled throughout the competition, recording four goals and four assists to finish first overall in both categories and stand out from the rest.
He modestly credited his teammates, saying, "There was certainly pressure that came with being a wild-card player, but I thought I needed to accept and acknowledge it and focus on what I could do well. We got a good result because the players helped me so much."

The gold medal brought him a military-service benefit and created a platform for him to play steadily in Europe, but Eom Ji-sung was already looking ahead to the fierce competition at his club.
Eom Ji-sung drew a clear distinction, saying, "Rather than thinking about military service, I am happy that everyone came together around one goal—the gold medal—and achieved the result. My future career depends on what I do." He continued, "Even while I was away from the team for the tournament, Swansea continued to post good results and is currently first in the Championship, the second-tier league. For me, that means a difficult competition has started again. I will enjoy today's happiness, and when I return, I will do my best like a professional and fulfill the role that suits my position."
After the awards ceremony, Eom Ji-sung jumped in celebration in front of his teammates. "That is not usually my style, but I was so happy that I wanted to express it," he said. He added, "This tournament has become a memory I will never forget for the rest of my life as a footballer. It is sad that I cannot play with this group again, but I think we will be able to talk about it happily when we get together later."


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