South Korea came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday, earning a crucial win in their second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After a quiet and uninspiring first half, the match burst into life after the break as both sides pushed for a breakthrough at Guadalajara Stadium.
The Czech Republic struck first in the 59th minute when captain Ladislav Krejci headed home from close range following a long throw into the penalty area, giving his side the advantage against the run of play.
South Korea responded strongly and found an equaliser eight minutes later through Hwang In-beom. The midfielder produced a clever piece of skill inside the box, creating space for himself before calmly finishing past the goalkeeper.
Hwang continued to influence the game and played a key role in the winning goal. In the 80th minute, his cross from the right flank found Oh Hyeon-gyu, who made no mistake in converting the chance to complete the turnaround.
Led by captain and star forward Son Heung-min, South Korea controlled much of the contest and created the better opportunities throughout the evening. The Asian side enjoyed more possession and registered more attempts on goal but struggled to turn their dominance into goals during the opening stages.
The Czech Republic, making their first World Cup appearance since 2006, defended resolutely for long periods but were unable to hold onto their lead as South Korea increased the pressure in the final half-hour.
Despite an official attendance of 44,985 at Guadalajara Stadium, large sections of empty seats were visible during the match.
In the other Group A fixture, co-hosts Mexico opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in Mexico City.
The win strengthens South Korea`s position in the group and provides a significant boost to their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
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