South Korea vs Czechia: Hwang and Oh Inspire Comeback Victory in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A Clash
South Korea Fight Back to Beat Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara
South Korea produced a spirited second-half comeback to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their opening Group A match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, moving level on points with Mexico at the top of the standings.
After a goalless first half, Czechia struck first through defender Ladislav Krejčí in the 59th minute, with Vladimír Coufal providing the assist to silence the Korean supporters in Guadalajara.
The lead lasted just eight minutes as Lee Kang-in threaded a precise pass into the box for Hwang In-beom, who calmly slotted home to restore parity in the 67th minute.
South Korea completed the turnaround in the 80th minute when substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu found the net after another excellent contribution from Hwang In-beom, who turned provider for the winning goal.
Czechia thought they had equalized late in the match, but a VAR review ruled out the goal, preserving South Korea’s advantage.
The Koreans managed the closing stages well despite late pressure and secured all three points to make an impressive start to their World Cup campaign.
Match Timeline
- 59′ Czechia 1-0 South Korea – Ladislav Krejčí (Assist: Vladimír Coufal)
- 67′ South Korea 1-1 Czechia – Hwang In-beom (Assist: Lee Kang-in)
- 78′ Czechia goal ruled out after VAR review
- 80′ South Korea 2-1 Czechia – Oh Hyeon-gyu (Assist: Hwang In-beom)
Key Moments
- Czechia led early in the second half but failed to hold their advantage.
- Hwang In-beom delivered a man-of-the-match performance with a goal and an assist.
- Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winning goal just eleven minutes after coming on.
- A late VAR intervention denied Czechia a potential equalizer.
Group A Standings
- Mexico – 3 pts (+2)
- South Korea – 3 pts (+1)
- Czechia – 0 pts (-1)
- South Africa – 0 pts (-2)
South Korea’s comeback win sets up an intriguing battle with Mexico for top spot in Group A, while Czechia will need a positive result in their next fixture to keep qualification hopes alive.
