Newcastle United youngster Park Seung-soo is one win away from winning a gold medal at the Asian Games after South Korea's under-23s beat China to book their place in Saturday's final.
Park was an unused substitute as his side came from behind to beat China 2-1 in Wednesday's semi-final thanks to goals from Grasshoppers' Lee Young-jun and Stoke City's Bae Jun-ho to book their place in the final for the fourth successive Asian Games.
Final against Japan and military exemption at stake
They will now face host nations Japan in the final at the Toyota Stadium with not only a gold medal on offer for South Korea's youngsters but also the prospect of earning a military exemption.
Under South Korean law, most able-bodied men must perform 18 to 21 months of military service. Special exemptions are granted for athletes and classical artists who excel in certain kinds of international competitions tied to national prestige. For athletes, that means any medal at the Olympics or a gold medal at the Asian Games.
Park has featured twice for his country during the competition and has made a big impact at under-21 level for Newcastle since joining the club last summer from Suwon Bluewings. The 19-year-old has been on the bench for the first team on two occasions and impressed during pre-season last summer.
Magpies quartet shine for Young Lions
Before the international break, Michael Mills and Kyran Thompson were named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time and they have carried that positive momentum into the international break.
The duo, as well as fellow Newcastle under-21s talents Roman Dowell and Sam Alabi, were called up for England's under-18s squad for the UEFA Friendship Cup in Nyon and they have all won three of their group games to move through to the semi-finals.
All four players started in their final group stage game as Alabi scored a 25-yard screamer in their 2-1 win over South Korea. Mills scored in wins over Colombia and Egypt, too, with both Thompson and Dowell making an important impression across the three games.
Newcastle 'close in' on new appointment
According to our sister title the Daily Record, Newcastle are closing in on the appointment of Kilmarnock head of goalkeeping Fraser Stewart as their new under-21s goalkeeper coach.
Prior to his four years at Rugby Park, Stewart has experience of working with the Scottish FA and Rangers at youth level. If appointed, Stewart would work closely with under-21s lead coach Robbie Stockdale and head of academy goalkeeping Tony Caig in overseeing the development of Dowell and George Mair - who just signed his first professional contract this week - with the two teenage talents highly rated at youth level.
