Tottenham forward Son Heung-min hit a 63rd-minute winner as South Korea beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0 on Monday to qualify for the knockout stage at the Asian Games.
The victory saw South Korea finish second in Group E in Indonesia, while a defeat would have seen them come last and get eliminated. But failure to top their pool saw Son and Co handed a tough draw.
Iran await on Thursday in the last 16. Iran and South Korea were two of the four Asian teams who qualified for the recent World Cup.
The other two Asian nations who made it to Russia 2018 — Japan and Saudi Arabia —are in the other half of the draw and on course to meet in the quarter-finals.
Therefore, South Korea will fancy their chances of reaching the gold medal match on September 1 if they are able to get past Iran
The Asian Games men's football tournament is an Under-23 event but each nation can name three overage players. And Tottenham are hoping that Son, who turned 26 last month, can win the gold medal with South Korea as it will make him exempt from military service.
Unless Son can earn exemption he must start his military service before the age of 27. All able-bodied South Korean men are required to complete 21 months service in the military as a deterrent against the North, but exemptions are offered to athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or a medal of any colour at the Olympics.
Son, who signed a contract with Spurs until 2023 this summer, did not play in South Korea's opening group game in Indonesia, but they hammered Bahrain 6-0 in his absence before losing 2-1 to Malaysia.
South Korea are the defending champions after winning gold on home soil four years ago, but Son did not play in that tournament.
Nor was he part of the 2012 squad who won an Olympic bronze medal in London.
khiladisuman
40
I win he win because if they don't win he have to do military service and that may hamper his career he is so talented and young let's hope