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South Korea made a winning debut in the 2026 World Cup by defeating Czech Republic 2-1 this Thursday at the , in a Group A match that the Asians turned around with determination after initially conceding a goal and coming back strongly in the second half.
The first half was balanced and goalless, although South Korea was slightly superior on the field. Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovár was the standout performer of the first half, making crucial saves that prevented South Korea from taking the lead, stopping shots from Kang-in Lee and denying a clear chance to Son Heung-min in front of the opponent's goal.
After the break, the South Koreans intensified their pressure, but the blow came from the opposite direction. In minute 59, Ladislav Krejci took advantage of a corner kick and a poor marking in the area to connect with a header that made it 1-0 in favor of the Europeans, just when South Korea was playing their best.
The Asian response was immediate and spectacular. In the 67th minute, Hwang In-beom showcased the standout play of the match: he eluded his marker with a graceful dribble outside the box, executed a clever back-heel after a sequence of 26 consecutive passes from the team, and shot into the corner to equalize 1-1 with one of the best goals of the day. The goal revitalized South Korea, which regained control of the match and continued to seek victory.
In the 77th minute, the VAR intervened to disallow a goal by Tomas Soucek for offside, preserving the stalemate and thwarting any potential Czech response.
The reward for persistence came in the 80th minute. Hwang In-beom accurately assisted Oh Hyeon-Gyu, who finished without hesitation to seal the definitive 2-1 and complete a comeback that showcased the mental strength of the team led by Hong Myung-bo.
The statistics confirmed South Korea's dominance throughout the match: 64% possession compared to 36% for the Czech Republic, 14 shots against four, and six shots on target versus two. The Czech Republic was more aggressive physically, committing 13 fouls to South Korea's eight. The corners slightly favored the Europeans, five to four, although this did not translate to the scoreboard.
Hwang In-beom, the scorer of the equalizing goal and provider of the winning goal assist, was named player of the match with a performance that showcased technical skill and determination at critical moments. Son Heung-min, the captain and key figure of the team in his fourth consecutive World Cup, came on as a substitute in the 69th minute to bring valuable experience to the final stretch.
With this result, South Korea gains three points and moves into second place in the , behind Mexico, which on the same day defeated South Africa 2-0 and leads the standings with a better goal difference. The match between Mexico and South Africa left the Africans at the bottom of the group alongside the Czech Republic, both with zero points and in need of a response in the second round to maintain their chances of qualification in a Group A that started with maximum intensity.
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