South Korea made a triumphant start to their World Cup Group A campaign by coming from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1, much to the delight of their supporters and a significant contingent of local fans in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Koreans now share the top spot in the group with Mexico, who secured three points after defeating nine-man South Africa 2-0 in the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City.
Ladislav Krejci initially put the Czech team ahead with a well-placed header, showcasing their aerial dominance. However, Hwang In-beom quickly leveled the score, later assisting substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, who netted the decisive goal.
Oh replaced Son Heung-min, who struggled to find the net despite having five opportunities in the first half. He remains two goals short of becoming the all-time leading scorer for South Korea, with 56 goals to his name.
Upcoming Matches
South Korea will face Mexico on June 18, while the Czech Republic is set to travel to Atlanta to take on South Africa on the same day.
Match Overview
Although there were noticeable gaps in the stadium seating, the vast majority of the 44,985 fans present passionately supported the Korean side.
The match highlighted contrasting styles, with South Korea displaying technical skill and passing finesse, while the Czech team relied on physical strength and a more direct approach.
The first half ended without any goals, but the second half ignited with action. The Czechs took the lead in the 59th minute when Krejci connected with a long throw from Vladimir Coufal to score.
South Korea responded just eight minutes later with a remarkable goal. Lee Kang-in threaded an excellent through ball to Hwang In-beom, who skillfully cut inside and curled a low shot into the far corner.
Although the Czechs thought they had reclaimed the lead when Tomas Soucek scored from a free-kick, the goal was disallowed for offside, marking a disappointing start for them in their first World Cup appearance in two decades.
