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Son has scored eight goals and registered five assists in the Premier League this season. Kamran Jebreili
London Calling

Early return for Tottenham star Son Heung-min as South Korea suffer Asian Cup elimination

Title-chasing South Korea were defeated by Qatar on Friday.

TOTTENHAM FORWARD SON Heung-min will make an early return to the Premier League club, after South Korea suffered a surprise defeat in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup on Friday.

Abdelaziz Hatim fired a late winner as Qatar stunned title-chasing South Korea 1-0 to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

South Korea were looking to end 59 years of hurt in the tournament but missed a string of second-half chances in Abu Dhabi before Hatim’s hammer blow after 78 minutes.

It took the Koreans until three minutes into the second half to register a shot on target, Hwang Ui-jo forcing a low save from Saad Al-Sheeb from the edge of the box.

Former Bolton and Crystal Palace midfielder Lee Chung-yong then blazed wide and captain Son Heung-min was denied by Al-Sheeb before Kim Jin-su’s free kick smacked against the post.

That wastefulness came back to haunt them when Hatim smashed a long-range rocket past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to give the 2022 World Cup hosts a famous victory.

Hwang thought he had equalised two minutes later, only to be given offside — a decision upheld by the video assistant referee.

Qatar’s semi-final opponents will be either hosts United Arab Emirates or holders Australia, meeting in Al-Ain later on Friday.

This latest news will come as a huge boost to Spurs officials and supporters, amid an injury crisis which has seen Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko all sidelined over the last two weeks.

While the exact date of Son’s return is not yet known, he should be back well before the Asian Cup ends on 2 February, meaning he could be available for Premier League matches against Watford and Newcastle. 

© AFP, 2019

Just over a week out from the 2019 Six Nations openers, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey are joined by Bernard Jackman to look at Ireland’s bid for another Grand Slam:


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