South Korea overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A opener at Estadio Akron on 12 June 2026. Goals from Hwang In-Beom and substitute Oh Hyeon-Gyu earned Hong Myung-bo’s side three points and a share of top spot in the group alongside Mexico.
🔥 Quick Read
- South Korea win 2-1 after trailing at the break
- Krejci headed Czechs in front on 59 minutes
- Hwang In-Beom equalised and assisted the winner
- Oh Hyeon-Gyu scored the decisive goal on 80 minutes
- South Korea joint-top of Group A with Mexico
South Korea Trailed by One Goal in the First Half
At the start of the match, South Korea quickly took control of the tempo, applying pressure through long balls from the back and crosses from the flanks. Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in attempted several long-range shots, but clear scoring chances remained relatively limited. Czechia, meanwhile, tried to create danger through a handful of set-piece opportunities, but they struggled to break through South Korea’s well-organized defence.
After the restart, South Korea launched several threatening attacks through the middle, but Czech goalkeeper Matěj Kovář delivered an impressive performance, making a number of crucial saves, including stopping Son Heung-min in a one-on-one situation.
In the 59th minute, Czechia finally found the breakthrough from a throw-in situation. Vladimír Coufal launched a powerful throw into the box, where defender Ladislav Krejčí rose high to head the ball into the net and break the deadlock.
Hwang In-beom Equalises and Sets a South Korean Record
However, Czechia’s lead lasted only eight minutes. In the 67th minute, Hwang In-beom latched onto Lee Kang-in’s through ball, cut into the box from the left, and finished with a precise low shot into the near corner to bring South Korea level.
With that goal and his earlier assist, Hwang became only the third South Korean player in history to both score and assist in the same World Cup match.
Oh Hyeon-gyu Comes Off the Bench to Complete South Korea’s Comeback
In the 77th minute, Czechia thought they had regained the lead when Tomáš Souček headed home from a set-piece, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Three minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu reacted quickly inside the box and fired home from close range to complete South Korea’s turnaround.
In stoppage time, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu produced a vital one-on-one save to deny Michal Sadílek, helping South Korea hold on for a 2-1 victory and move level on points with Group A leaders Mexico.
Hwang In-beom’s Goal and Assist Make Him the Core of South Korea’s Comeback
Hwang In-beom was South Korea’s standout performer. His 67th-minute equaliser, scored after cutting inside from Lee Kang-in’s pass, changed the momentum of the match. He later assisted Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winning goal, completing a goal-and-assist performance in the same World Cup match.
Before Hwang, only two South Korean players had achieved the same feat: Choi Soon-ho against Italy in 1986, and current head coach Hong Myung-bo against Spain in 1994.
After the match, Hong praised the team’s technical level, and Hwang stood out as the central figure behind this important victory.
Group A Picture Becomes Clearer as Czechia Face Growing Pressure
After this result, South Korea sit level with Mexico on three points at the top of Group A, with their goal-difference position offering a degree of breathing room. Czechia head coach Karel Koubek said after the match: “We played well. We could have drawn or even won the game, but now we must take points in the second round against South Africa, or our qualification situation will become extremely difficult.”
In terms of discipline, Lee Ki-hyuk received the only yellow card of the match in the 90th minute. South Korea currently have no suspension concerns and can prepare for their next group-stage fixture with a full squad available.
South Korea’s next Group A match will be the true test of how valuable this comeback win really is, while Czechia must beat South Africa to keep their hopes of qualification alive.
