Four Goals, Four Assists: The Next-Generation Ace Following in Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in’s Footsteps—Has the ‘Eom Ji-sung Era’ Begun?

[Financial News] In moments of crisis, the class of an ace shines even brighter. Eom Ji-sung, the “ace of Swansea City,” dominated the Asian Games with an overwhelming four-goal, four-assist performance, perfectly proving why he is the next-generation star destined to follow in the footsteps of Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in.
The South Korea U-23 national team, led by coach Lee Min-sung, defeated Japan 1-0 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 scored the winning goal in the 16th minute of the second half, helping South Korea achieve an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.
Eom Ji-sung was unquestionably the true star of the tournament. Born in 2002, he joined Lee Min-sung’s squad as an overage wild-card player aged 24 or older. Even amid the senior national team’s shocking World Cup round-of-32 exit, he had stood head and shoulders above the rest. He displayed that same extraordinary talent on the Asian Games stage.

His performance exploded from the opening match. In the first group-stage game against Qatar, he scored a hat trick in the first half to launch the tournament in spectacular fashion. In the semifinal against China, he delivered two assists with sharp crosses that broke through the frustrating, sluggish play and set up goals by Lee Young-jun and Bae Jun-ho.
Then came the long-awaited final. With the score locked at 0-0, Eom Ji-sung showed his true quality in the 16th minute of the second half. After receiving the ball amid a scramble inside the penalty area, he completely fooled Japan’s tightly packed defense with a right-footed shooting motion. He then calmly pushed the ball in with his left foot, sending it into Japan’s net. The brilliant individual play that caught Japan off guard produced South Korea’s only shot on target—and secured the gold medal.
With one more goal in the final, Eom Ji-sung finished the tournament with four goals and four assists. He ranked first outright in both scoring and assists, producing statistics so dominant that it would not be an exaggeration to call him the tournament’s overall MVP, even though no official award was presented.

Meeting reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Eom Ji-sung remained composed despite the flood of praise. “Even when we gave up possession and were being pushed back, we waited for a single opportunity,” he said. He added modestly, “I slipped because of the turf while taking the shot for the winning goal, so I was lucky.”
He also opened up about the pressure of being an overage wild-card player. “There was certainly some pressure, but I accepted it as something natural and focused on the plays I could make,” he said. Smiling broadly, he added, “I think this will become a memory I will never forget.”

With this gold medal, Eom Ji-sung will receive military-service benefits. He will now return to Swansea City and begin the challenge of reaching a new career high. Competition for a place within the team also awaits, as Swansea City currently leads the English Championship, the second division. Having proven his ability to carry a team at the Asian Games, he is also ready to establish himself as a firm ace for the senior national team, which desperately needs a generational transition and a turnaround.
From boyhood to manhood, and now to the next-generation star who will lead South Korean football. Eom Ji-sung’s true rise begins now, with an Asian Games gold medal around his neck.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter