Park Chu-young scored a brilliant individual goal to lead South Korea to a 2-0 victory over Japan on Friday and a bronze medal in Olympic men's soccer.

It was South Korea's first medal in the competition, and also the first by any Asian team since the 1968 Mexico City Games, when Japan won the bronze.

Park scored in the 38th minute after picking up a deflected clearance just inside his own half. He ran past two retreating defenders and shot low past goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.

Koo Ja-cheol got the second goal 10 minutes into the second half, latching onto a long goal kick and finishing on his second touch.

Japan's captain Maya Yoshida scored what appeared to be a goal on a header in the 86th minute, but it was disallowed for a foul by Yuki Otsu on the goalkeeper.

Brazil and Mexico play in the gold-medal match Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.