South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu (R) scores his side's second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium. -/YNA/dpa
South Korea fought back for a deserved 2-1 victory in their World Cup opener against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
They were the better team throughout the game, forcing Czech keeper Matej Kovar into several big saves, but fell behind in the 59th minute.
Against the run of play, a clinical long throw-in found Ladislav Krejčí, who broke the deadlock with a header.
South Korea equalized in the 67th as Hwang In Beom chipped the ball over Kovac as they finally managed to beat the keeper.
The Czechs thought they had the lead again in the 77th, but Tomas Soucek's effort was ruled out for offside.
Just three minutes later, South Korea were on target again with substitute Oh Hyeon Gyu scoring the deserved winner.
South Korea are tied on three points at the top of Group A with co-hosts Mexico, who earlier defeated South Africa 2-0.
The Czech Republic are returning to the World Cup for the first time since Germany 2006.
South Korea's Hwang In-beom celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium. -/YNA/dpaSouth Korea's Hwang In-beom (R) scores his side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium. -/YNA/dpaCzech Republic's Ladislav Krejci (R) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium. -/YNA/dpaCzech Republic's Ladislav Krejci (4th R) scores his side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium. -/YNA/dpa
