Following our first round-up on Tuesday, our reports from the Asian Cup continue with a look at how South Korea fared in their round-of-16 tie against Bahrain.
South Korea 2-1 Bahrain (AET)
On the day Dele Alli was ruled out until March with a hamstring injury, Son Heung-min and South Korea extended their stay in the Asian Cup to dash hopes – for now, at least – of an early return for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.
The Taegeuk Warriors were surprisingly taken to extra time by Bahrain in Rashid yesterday, with Son lasting all 120 minutes of the encounter.
This was Son’s second appearance of the tournament following his departure from north London after the defeat to Manchester United in Gameweek 22.
The in-form Spurs midfielder had played 89 minutes of his country’s 2-0 victory over China last Wednesday, with Son winning the penalty for South Korea’s first goal and then supplying the assist for Kim Min-jae’s headed second.
There was no attacking return against Bahrain but Son was involved in the build-up to South Korea’s first goal, with his pass out to the flank leading to a cross that was turned in by Hwang Hee-chan.
Son was mostly utilised on the left flank in this match, having been deployed in a more central position in his first appearance of the tournament against China.
Bahrain had clearly pinpointed Son as the danger-man in the South Korea side, too, doubling up on the Spurs player whenever he was in possession and not averse to fouling the FPL midfielder to curb his influence.
Son said of his team’s efforts:
It was a tough game. It’s all about attitude, as well, and I’m a bit unhappy with our performance. I think we’re better than that.
South Korea’s progression to the quarter-finals means Son will definitely miss the second leg of Spurs’ Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Thursday, though there is still the chance the midfielder will return in time for Gameweek 24 if his nation are dumped out of the tournament by Qatar this Friday.
An exit at the semi-final stage next Tuesday could see Son back on UK shores in time for the Gameweek 25 visit of Newcastle United, given that the third-place play-off in this competition has now been abolished.
Should South Korea go all the way to the final, Son will return for the Gameweek 26 encounter with Leicester City at Wembley.
Spurs, meanwhile, issued the following statement about Alli:
Following scans and clinical assessment, we can confirm that Dele Alli has suffered a hamstring strain.
Dele will now undergo a period of rehabilitation with our medical staff with the expectation of returning to training in early March.
The Lilywhites should, at least, have Lucas Moura (£6.8m) back in time for Gameweek 24 after Mauricio Pochettino said the Brazilian midfielder was “nearly 100 per cent” following the win over Fulham.
South Korea’s other Premier League representative in the Asian Cup was Ki Sung-yueng (£4.7m) but the Newcastle United midfielder’s tournament is over after he picked up a hamstring injury.
The Magpies yesterday confirmed the player had returned to the club in the following statement:
Ki Sung-yueng has returned to Newcastle United after a recurrence of a hamstring injury suffered on international duty with Korea Republic.
He first picked up an injury during his country’s opening game of the Asian Cup, against the Philippines on 7th January, and was substituted.
After suffering a recurrence in training, the 29-year-old has been recalled by the Magpies.
He is now back on Tyneside, where his injury will be assessed by the club’s medical staff.
Asian Cup: Remaining Fixtures
Thursday 24 January: Quarter-finals – Vietnam v Japan (Maya Yoshida, Yoshinori Muto), China v Iran (Alireza Jahanbakhsh)
Friday 25 January: Quarter-finals – South Korea (Son Heung-min) v Qatar, UAE v Australia (Mathew Ryan)
Monday 28 January: Semi-finals – Vietnam/Japan v China/Iran
Tuesday 29 January: Semi-finals – South Korea/Qatar v UAE/Australia
Friday 1 February: Final
Remaining FPL Gameweeks Potentially Affected
Tuesday 29-Wednesday 30 January: Gameweek 24
Saturday 2-Monday 4 February: Gameweek 25
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