Korea Republic seal late comeback over Czechia to win World Cup opener
Oh Hyeon-gyu and Hwang In-beom scored as an impressive South Korea team came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 in their opening World Cup match at Estadio Guadalajara.
Group A's second game was a clash of classs as Czechia survived wave after wave of South Korea pressure before striking from a long throw in the 59th minute, via Ladislav Krejci's towering header.
But Hong Myung-bo's team drew level through a wonderful goal eight minutes later, with their two standout performers on the day combining as Lee Kang-in provided the assist for Hwang's composed touch and finish.
And, after the offside flag thwarted Tomas Soucek, Hwang teed up the winner, with substitute Oh ensuring South Korea joined Mexico on three points at the top of Group A.
South Korea looked far more composed in possession throughout a first half in which Czechia did not attempt a shot on target, with Lee Kang-in working Matej Kovar from distance in the 14th minute.
Son Heung-min's involvement grew as the half-time whistle drew closer, but the Los Angeles FC forward – who has not scored in MLS this year – planted one attempt wide of the bottom-left corner, then lost his footing as he attempted to turn Lee Jae-sung's centre towards goal.
South Korea continued to force the issue after the interval, with Kovar blocking Hwang's low drive and Lee Jae-sung's follow-up, then producing his best save yet to thwart Son following more intricate approach play from Lee Kang-in.
Czechia's set-piece prowess then came to the fore, though, with Krejci steaming towards the six-yard box to nod Vladimir Coufal's throw past the stranded Kim Seung-gyu.
However, Czechia's lead did not last long as Lee Kang-in's scooped pass found Hwang on the left side of the area, and the Feyenoord midfielder sat Kovar down with a wonderful drag-back before curling into the far corner.
Soucek's celebrations were halted by the flag after he headed Michal Sadilek's free-kick home, and South Korea made that reprieve count as Oh turned Hwang's centre into the bottom-left corner with 10 minutes to play.
Another Coufal throw almost led to a Czechia equaliser, but Kim sprawled across his line to block Adam Hlozek's effort, and that was the best chance they had to snatch a point.
- Silky South Korea see off set-piece specialists
While both teams deployed 3-4-3 systems, the contrast between South Korea's fluid, possession-based class and Czechia's reliance on dead balls could not have been more stark.
In the UEFA qualifiers, Czechia scored 11 of their 22 goals from set-plays, and Krejci's opener was the first World Cup goal to be scored directly off a throw-in since Zanka netted for Denmark against Croatia in 2018. Seven of Czechia's last 14 World Cup goals, dating back to 1990 as Czechoslovakia, have now been headers.
But South Korea's dominance of the ball – they had a 61.7% possession share and accumulated 1.84 expected goals (xG) to Czechia's 0.81 – ultimately won out. Lee Kang-in was particularly influential, completing all 37 of his passes, winning 10 of his 14 duels and creating three chances.
Hwang became the third South Korea player to record a goal and an assist in a World Cup match, after Choi Soon-ho (versus Italy in 1986) and current head coach Hong (against Spain in 1994).
Oh, meanwhile, is the eighth South Korea player to score on his first career World Cup appearance, and the fifth to do so as a substitute.