South Korea came from behind to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their World Cup 2026 Group A opener at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, with Hwang In-beom inspiring the comeback victory.
Key Takeaways
- South Korea overcame a first-half deficit to win 2-1 against Czechia.
- Hwang In-beom scored one goal and provided the assist for the winner in his standout performance.
- Oh Hyeon-gyu, a substitute player, secured the victory with an 80th-minute finish.
- Captain Son Heung-min was prominent but wasteful, with five of his six shots off target.
Match Highlights
Watch the full highlights of South Korea’s comeback win over Czechia below.
How did South Korea come back to beat Czechia?
The South Korean squad was frustrated by missed chances before half-time, but they showed resilience after falling behind. Ladislav Krejci headed home Vladimir Coufal’s long throw-in in the 59th minute to give Czechia a 1-0 lead from a set piece.
South Korea hit back fast, with Hwang In-beom cutting inside from a Lee Kang-in pass and clipping a deft finish inside the post to level it at 1-1, with the Czech lead having lasted just eight minutes.
The turning point arrived when Tomas Soucek had the ball in the net with a header that would have restored Czechia’s lead, but he was flagged offside and the goal was disallowed. Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu then won it in the 80th minute, turning in the box to tuck home Hwang In-beom’s low ball from the right.
What record did Hwang In-beom set?
Hwang In-beom was the standout player for South Korea, scoring one goal and assisting the other. His performance made him only the third South Korea player to record both a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match.
The previous two players to achieve this feat were Choi Soon-ho against Italy in 1986, and Hong Myung-bo against Spain in 1994. Notably, Hong Myung-bo is now the head coach of the South Korean national team.
How did Son Heung-min perform?
Son Heung-min was prominent and busy but wasteful in front of goal during the South Korea 2-1 Czechia match. The captain had six shots and put five of them off target, with only one on target.
Son missed a good chance wide in the first half and had a close-range effort saved in the second. Despite his lack of finishing, South Korea showed their depth by winning even without their star at his best.
Match Statistics
The following table shows the key match statistics for South Korea versus Czechia.
| Statistic | South Korea | Czechia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Shots | 9 | 6 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 4 |
| Accurate passes | 469 (87%) | 230 (70%) |
| Fouls committed | 9 | 16 |
| Saves | 3 | 4 |
What It Means for Group A Standings
South Korea made a winning, resilient start in Group A and join hosts Mexico (who beat South Africa 2-0 earlier that day) on three points. Czechia were left to rue a missed chance to hold their lead after the set-piece goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of South Korea vs Czechia?
The final score of the match was South Korea 2, Czechia 1. The South Korean squad came from behind to secure a comeback victory in their World Cup 2026 Group A opener.
Who scored the goals for South Korea and Czechia?
Ladislav Krejci scored for Czechia in the 59th minute. Hwang In-beom equalized for South Korea in the 67th minute, and substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winning goal in the 80th minute.
Why was Tomas Soucek’s goal disallowed?
Tomas Soucek had the ball in the net with a header that would have restored Czechia’s lead, but he was flagged offside by the referee. The goal was subsequently disallowed.
What record did Hwang In-beom set?
Hwang In-beom became only the third South Korea player to record both a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match, following Choi Soon-ho (1986) and Hong Myung-bo (1994).
