South Korea trailed for less than ten minutes before turning the match on its head. L. Krejci put Czech Republic ahead in the 59th minute, but Hwang In-Beom equalized quickly at the 67th and Oh Hyeon-Gyu sealed it at the 80th, giving South Korea a 2-1 win at Estadio Akron. A VAR-disallowed Tomas Soucek goal in the 77th minute could have changed the story, but the Koreans held firm to open their 2026 World Cup campaign with three points.
Key Moments
- 59′, L. Krejci breaks the deadlock for Czech Republic with a normal goal, giving the Czechs the lead against the run of play after a goalless first half.
- 67′, Hwang In-Beom levels for South Korea just eight minutes after falling behind, restoring parity and swinging momentum back to the home side.
- 77′, T. Soucek has a goal ruled out by VAR for offside, a decision that proved pivotal as Czech Republic were denied what would have been a go-ahead goal.
- 80′, Oh Hyeon-Gyu converts to put South Korea ahead, capitalizing on substitute energy and a Czech defense stretched after the disallowed goal.
Tactical Breakdown
South Korea controlled this match for long stretches, finishing with 62% possession and 542 total passes at an 87% accuracy rate compared to Czech Republic’s 71%. The Koreans generated 15 total shots, six on target, and posted an xG of 2.00, which their two goals matched almost exactly. Their 3-4-2-1 setup allowed them to press high and recycle quickly, suffocating Czech Republic’s ability to build through the thirds.
The turning point came not at the start of the second half but in a frantic six-minute stretch between the 59th and 67th minutes. Czech Republic’s triple substitution at the 64th minute, bringing on P. Sulc, P. Schick, and L. Provod simultaneously, was designed to press their advantage. Instead, South Korea responded before those subs could settle, with Hwang In-Beom equalizing almost immediately. Manager Myung-Bo Hong then introduced Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok at the 69th minute, a move that brought more directness and helped create the Oh Hyeon-Gyu winner.
Czech Republic’s xG of 0.84 tells the story of a side that rarely threatened in the final third despite committing 16 fouls. They had only eight total shots, four on target, and struggled to link play in a 38% possession share. The Soucek goal being wiped out by VAR at the 77th minute was a blow, but the underlying numbers suggest South Korea deserved their win comfortably.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Verdict
South Korea open Group Stage matchday 1 with three points and sit second in the group alongside Mexico, who also won their opener. Czech Republic drop to third with nothing from their first game and will need a result in their next fixture to stay in contention for advancement. The group remains open, but South Korea’s ability to come from behind and control possession for large parts of this match is an encouraging sign for Hong’s squad.