South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on Thursday night, the second match of the 2026 World Cup. Ladislav Krejci had given the Czechs a 59th-minute lead from a long throw-in, but In-beom Hwang levelled within eight minutes and Hyeon-gyu Oh completed the turnaround in the 80th minute. South Korea move level with Mexico at the top of Group A after the opening day.
HOW THE GAME PLAYED OUT
South Korea were the better side for long periods, dominating possession at 62 percent and completing nearly twice as many passes as their opponents. Heung-min Son had several early chances but could not find the breakthrough — a recurring frustration in the first half. Czechia, true to their direct style, struggled to create in open play but found a route to goal through a set-piece. Vladimir Coufal launched a long throw into the box in the 59th minute and Krejci attacked it at the near post, heading home Czechia's first shot on target of the match to make it 1-0.
The lead lasted just eight minutes. In-beom Hwang received a pass from Kang-in Lee, cut inside from the right, and clipped a deft finish inside the far post to level the score in the 67th minute — a moment of real quality. Czechia thought they had restored their lead in the 77th minute when Tomas Soucek headed home from another set-piece, but the West Ham midfielder was correctly flagged offside by the video assistant referee, and the goal was chalked off.
South Korea completed the comeback in the 80th minute. Hwang once again provided the assist — a perfectly whipped pass into the box that Oh Hyeon-gyu met with his left foot, tapping home from close range. It was Hwang's second goal involvement of the night, making him the third South Korean player in history to record a goal and an assist in the same World Cup match, joining Choi Soon-ho (1986 vs Italy) and current head coach Myung-bo Hong (1994 vs Spain).
Czechia pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages. Goalkeeper Seung-gyu Kim was called into action in the dying moments, making a brilliant reaction save to deny Michal Sadilek a tap-in from close range after a quick Czech combination through Hlozek and Chytil. The save preserved South Korea's lead and secured all three points.
LINEUPS
South Korea (4-2-3-1): Seung-gyu Kim; Lee Gi-hyuk and back four; Hwang In-beom, Lee Kang-in in midfield; Son Heung-min, Oh Hyeon-gyu in attack.
Czechia (4-4-2): Czech goalkeeper; Coufal at right-back; Krejci, Soucek, Hlozek, Chytil, Sadilek among the key contributors.
THE NUMBERS
South Korea: 62% possession, 11 shot attempts. Czechia: significantly fewer attempts, scoring from their only shot on target of the match — a Coufal long throw finished by Krejci.
WHAT IT MEANS
South Korea move to three points and join Mexico at the top of Group A after the opening round of fixtures — both nations winning their openers. It is an excellent start for Myung-bo Hong's side, who many had written off before the tournament. Czechia, despite the defeat, showed they can cause problems from set-pieces — a tactic they will need to refine going forward. Group A is wide open after day one — Mexico, South Korea, Czechia and South Africa all in action again in the coming days.
