Ki Sung-yueng will miss rest of Asian Cup due to injury

Veteran midfielder Ki Sung-yueng will miss the rest of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup for Korea with a hamstring injury.

The KFA announced Sunday that the 29-year-old has been dropped from the team with the nagging right leg injury he sustained during Korea’s first Group C match against the Philippines on Jan. 7.

It was a non-contact injury, as Ki pulled up lame and took himself out of the match. Ki missed the next two group matches.

Ki returned to full practice Friday, raising hopes that he’d be fit for Korea’s round of 16 match against Bahrain Tuesday. But Ki reaggravated his injury Saturday, and head coach Paulo Bento decided to send the midfielder back to Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Ki, who will turn 30 Thursday, led all South Koreans at the tournament with 110 caps. This was his third Asian Cup appearance.

YONHAP