SWANS: Eom stars again as Swansea’s internationals go head to head around the world

Eom Ji-sung is one game from a gold medal after starring again for South Korea, the pick of a busy international break for Swansea City‘s players.

The winger provided both assists in South Korea Under-23s’ 2-1 semi-final win over China at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, sending the holders into Saturday’s Asian Games final against old rivals Japan. Kick-off is 11.30am UK time.

With the match tightly poised, Eom delivered a sublime pass to set up Stoke City’s Bae Jun-ho, who struck the decisive 82nd-minute winner.

It caps a tournament in which Eom has already hit a first-half hat-trick against Qatar in the group stage.

The win keeps the reigning champions on course for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Asian Games gold, and sets up a third straight final between the two countries, South Korea having beaten Japan in both 2018 and 2022.

There is more than a medal at stake too. South Korean men must complete military service, and an Asian Games gold earns an exemption, which adds an edge to Saturday’s final for the squad.

Elsewhere, the break has seen Swansea team-mates line up on opposite sides twice.

Stephen Welsh got the better of Zan Vipotnik in Scotland’s goalless draw with Slovenia, the summer signing earning huge praise on his debut while Vipotnik came off the bench without finding a way through.

Across the Atlantic, midfielder Stephen Eustáquio was part of the Canada side that edged Chile 1-0 in Toronto, with Lawrence Vigouroux in goal for the beaten South Americans.

Welsh assured on Scotland debut

Welsh, handed a first call-up after starting every game since his summer move from Celtic, played on the left of a back three despite being right-footed.

Scotland struggled defensively at times in the first half, with Slovenia playing over the top of them, but the Swansea centre-half’s positioning after the break helped change the game.

The former Motherwell and Celtic defender created a clear goalscoring chance with a wonderful through ball to Kieron Bowie, and finished the game with 16 passes into the final third and the highest passing accuracy on the pitch.

More aggressive play from Welsh helped set the tone after the interval, and he looked assured throughout. In the first half his average position was short of the halfway line, but by the end of the game it was in Slovenian territory.

Idah on target, Cabango knocked

Adam Idah was on target as the Republic of Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Debrecen, his first international goal in a year.

Captain Ben Cabango played 70 minutes in Wales’ defeat by Portugal in Lisbon before missing out against Denmark after coming off with a knock.

Filip Lissah carried his club form into international duty, the young defender scoring his first goal for the Czech Republic Under-21s in a 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan. Lissah had set up Eustáquio’s winner at Lincoln in Swansea’s last game before the break.

Stamenic skippers New Zealand

Away from Europe’s Nations League games, Marko Stamenic captained New Zealand to a 3-0 friendly win over China, with Elijah Just coming off the bench. Both had been replacements in a 2-2 draw with Palestine.

The pair now head to Japan for the Kirin Cup, with Panama their first opponents.

Eustáquio’s Canada face Peru and then rivals the United States, the latter just three days before Swansea return to Championship action at home to Norwich City on Saturday 10 October.

Vigouroux’s Chile also meet the USA and then Mexico before the goalkeeper can make the journey back to south Wales.

Joseph Opoku, who like Just and Eustáquio scored at this summer’s World Cup, was not named in the Ghana squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.