Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho Step Off Bench Ahead of Asian Games Join-up

South Korean attackers Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City and Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City, who play in the English EFL Championship, both appeared as substitutes in their respective team matches just before joining the national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Eom started on the bench for the away match against Southampton in the 6th round of the 2026–2027 EFL Championship held at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, on the 9th (Korean time), and stepped onto the pitch in the 78th minute replacing Moussa Yeo, playing for about 10 minutes.

Having started consecutively in the 3rd to 5th rounds recently, Eom managed his stamina by coming on as a substitute ahead of joining the Asian Games squad.

Recording 2 goals and 2 assists in the Championship this season, he did not add an attacking point on this day.

Swansea City, which had been undefeated in 5 matches (3 wins, 2 draws) since the opening of the Championship, suffered its first league defeat of the season with a 1–3 loss to Southampton.

With 11 points, Swansea is positioned 2nd in the league.

Bae Jun-ho was included in the substitute list for the away match against Cardiff City held at Cardiff City Stadium and was brought on in the 59th minute replacing George Hirst.

Stoke City drew 1–1 with Cardiff City, extending its unbeaten run to 3 league matches (2 wins, 1 draw), and sits in 15th place with 7 points.

Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho are key resources expected to star in the attacking midfield for coach Lee Min-sung's squad as they attempt to win a fourth consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games.

They are scheduled to join the Asian Games national team's pre-tournament camp in Shizuoka, Japan, on the 10th.

The men's football national team, which will move to Nagoya on the 12th, is placed in Group D and will face Qatar on the 15th and Saudi Arabia on the 22nd.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.