World Cup 2026: South Korea Come From Behind to Defeat Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara
South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Estadio Guadalajara in their opening Group A match of the 2026 World Cup. After falling behind to Ladislav Krejčí’s goal in the 59th minute, the Asian side responded through Hwang In-beom in the 67th minute and took the lead with Oh Hyeon-gyu’s strike in the 80th minute.
This victory gives South Korea an ideal start in a group where every point is crucial. With three points, South Korea joins Mexico at the top of Group A, while the Czech Republic will need to respond in their upcoming matches to stay in contention for qualification.
The match remained goalless for a long time. The first half ended 0-0 despite several well-constructed Korean sequences and Czech chances on the flanks. Son Heung-min had two opportunities before the break, including a curled shot following a Kim Min-jae recovery in the 38th minute, as well as a chance in stoppage time when the South Korean captain looked to pass rather than shoot immediately.
The Czech Republic struck first after the interval. In the 59th minute, Ladislav Krejčí converted a ball following a long throw-in to give the Europeans the lead. The goal shifted the balance of the then-even contest, but South Korea reacted quickly.
Hwang In-beom equalized eight minutes later. This goal boosted South Korea’s momentum, with sharper passing and the ability to exploit spaces between the lines. Ten minutes before full time, Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner, completing South Korea’s comeback.
South Korea Rewarded After the Break
The South Korean team built their win around a collective response after conceding. Their block alternated between waiting phases and pressing bursts, recovering several balls in midfield. Kim Min-jae notably influenced duels and the initial build-up, while Lee Kang-in added impetus in short passing sequences.
South Korea had already demonstrated their ability to find Son in dangerous areas in the first half. At the 37th minute, the forward attempted a long-range shot after a ground movement through the center. One minute later, he advanced with the ball from the right channel to the edge of the box, but could not direct his shot on target.
South Korea’s patience was ultimately rewarded in the final third of the match. After Hwang In-beom’s equalizer, the team continued to push forward without losing structure. Oh Hyeon-gyu’s goal in the 80th minute gave them a lead the Czech Republic could not overturn.
Czech Republic Lose Their Advantage
The Czech Republic had gained the first turning point with Krejčí’s goal. Before that, they looked for solutions down the flanks, particularly through Vladimir Coufal on the right and Lukáš Provod on the left. At the 21st minute, a cross from the right wing tested the Korean defense during a corner.
The Czechs also sought to win second balls and sustain pressure in the offensive area. At the 41st minute, a sequence from a free kick followed by open play forced several headed clearances from the South Korean defense. However, this pressure was insufficient to create a lasting lead.
After taking the lead, the Czech Republic could not contain South Korea’s comeback. The goals conceded in the 67th and 80th minutes leave the European side pointless at the end of the first matchday. Their next Group A game will carry major significance in the battle for qualification spots.
Aucun match Mondial 2026 disponible pour le moment.
Classements Mondial 2026 en attente des premiers resultats.
Czech Republic- 59'But - L. Krejci (passe V. Coufal)
- 62'Remplacement - Lee Jae-Sung (remplace Hwang Hee-Chan)
- 64'Remplacement - P. Sulc (remplace A. Hlozek)
- 64'Remplacement - P. Schick (remplace T. Chory)
- 64'Remplacement - L. Provod (remplace M. Sadilek)
- 67'But - Hwang In-Beom (passe Lee Kang-In)
- 69'Remplacement - Lee Tae-Seok (remplace Eom Ji-Sung)
- 69'Remplacement - Son Heung-Min (remplace Oh Hyeon-Gyu)
- 77'VAR - T. Soucek
- 80'But - Oh Hyeon-Gyu (passe Hwang In-Beom)
- 84'Remplacement - Hwang In-Beom (remplace Kim Jin-Gyu)
- 84'Remplacement - Paik Seung-Ho (remplace Park Jin-Seob)
- 84'Remplacement - A. Sojka (remplace M. Chytil)
- 90+6'Carton jaune - Lee Gi-Hyuk
- Tirs cadres : South Korea 6 / Czech Republic 4
- Tirs : South Korea 15 / Czech Republic 8
- Possession : South Korea 62% / Czech Republic 38%
- Corners : South Korea 4 / Czech Republic 5
- Fautes : South Korea 9 / Czech Republic 16
- Cartons jaunes : South Korea 1 / Czech Republic 0
- Passes : South Korea 542 / Czech Republic 323
- Precision des passes : South Korea 87% / Czech Republic 71%
- xG : South Korea 2.00 / Czech Republic 0.84
- Hwang In-beom (South Korea) : note 8.9, 1 but(s), 1 passe(s) decisive(s)
- Hyeon-gyu Oh (South Korea) : note 7.3, 1 but(s)
- Kang-in Lee (South Korea) : note 8.2, 1 passe(s) decisive(s)
- Ladislav Krejčí (Czech Republic) : note 7.2, 1 but(s)
- Kim Seung-gyu (South Korea) : note 7.5, 3 arret(s)
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