Tottenham Striker Son Avoids Military Duty, Courtesy Asiad Gold

South Korea’s Son Heung-min celebrates after beating Japan during the football men’s gold medal match at the 18th Asian Games.

(Photo: AP)

Tottenham forward Son Heung-min will get to skip military service as South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in the Asian Games gold medal football game on Saturday.

The South Korean government rewards holders of Asian Games gold medals and all Olympic medals with the exemption.

South Korea football team celebrates after winning the gold medal match against Japan.(Photo: AP)

Military service is compulsory for South Korean males, and the 26-year-old Son would have faced at least 21 months of service and the loss of millions in income.

Son ran wildly onto the field at the end, hugging teammates with hundreds of South Korea flags flying.

With the match in extra time after 0-0 in regulation, Son got the break he wanted from teammate Lee Seung-woo.

In the 93rd minute, Son broke towards the middle and shuffled a pass to Lee, who drove the ball with his left foot into the top of the net. He immediately posed atop sign boards alongside the edge of the field, celebrating his minute of glory.

South Korea clinched it eight minutes later on a leaping header inside the far post from Hwang Hee-chan. The 101st-minute goal prompted Son to embrace South Korean coach Kim Hak-bum on the sidelines.

Japan’s Ayase Ueda scored on a header with five minutes left to make it close.  

South Korea had 65 percent of the possession in regulation time, and had a wide edge in shots, and shots-on goal.

Son almost got the winning goal himself, but his shot just seconds into extra time sailed inches wide of the far post.

Son Heung-min in action during the gold medal match against Japan.(Photo: AP)

Saturday was the last full day of competition at the Asian Games with only one medal event on Sunday — mixed triathlon. The closing ceremony is also Sunday.

Japan also came up short as South Korea won gold in baseball with a 3-0 victory. In the bronze medal game, Taiwan pummeled China 10-0.

China won women's basketball, defeating the combined Koreas women's team 71-65. Shao Ting topped China's scorers with 17 points. Lim Yunghui was the top Korean scorer with 24. Park Ji-sung had 15.

The women’s squad included nine South Koreans and three from North Korea.  

Dragon boat races delivered a gold medal and two bronze medals for the combined Koreas teams during the games — the feel-good story of the Asian Games.