Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the 80th-minute winner in a far-from-full Guadalajara stadium after Hwang In-beom had cancelled out Ladislav Krejčí’s header.
South Korea opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, but only after finally converting some of the many chances they created in a match that exposed their wastefulness before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu delivered the decisive blow.
The Taegeuk Warriors dominated the first half but could not find the net. Son Heung-min, the former Tottenham star, blasted one effort over the bar and later made a driving run to his left, evading two Czech defenders, only to shoot wide. The Koreans controlled possession and created multiple opportunities, but the scoreboard remained blank at halftime.
The second half began with the Czech Republic scoring against the run of play. Ladislav Krejčí rose at the front post to power a header past Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, silencing the Guadalajara crowd in a stadium that was far from full.
South Korea responded through Hwang In-beom in the 67th minute. The midfielder faked a shot and then caressed the ball over Czech goalkeeper Matěj Kovář with a clever finish, finally making Korean pressure pay.
The Czechs had a goal disallowed before Hwang turned provider. He crossed from the right for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, who had replaced an ineffective Son, to slot home the winner in the 80th minute. When the final whistle sounded after a frantic end to the game, Son sank to the turf in relief and joy.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the result leaves South Korea level on three points with Mexico, who defeated South Africa 2-0 in the tournament’s opening Group A game earlier Thursday at the Estadio Azteca. South Korea will face the co-hosts on June 18, while the Czech Republic will play South Africa in Atlanta on the same day.
For South Korea, the victory was secured despite their captain’s off-night. For the Czech Republic, the defeat will sting, having scored against the run of play only to see a second goal disallowed and the lead slip away. Both sides now face critical matches that will determine their fate in Group A
Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of The Accra Daily Mail, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
