South Korea come from behind to beat Czech Republic in World Cup opener

GUADALAJARA: South Korea recovered from falling behind to open their World Cup Group A campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday, delighting their supporters and a strong local Mexican backing in a festive atmosphere in Guadalajara.

The result put South Korea level on three points with Mexico at the top of the group after the co-hosts beat nine-man South Africa 2-0 in the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City. South Korea will next play Mexico on June 18, while the Czech Republic travel to Atlanta to face South Africa on the same day.

Although there were visible patches of empty seats, most of the 44,985 spectators were behind the Koreans. The match featured a contrast in approaches, with South Korea relying on technical play and passing, while the Czechs used a more direct and physical style.

The first half ended without a goal, even though Son Heung-min had five chances before the break. The South Korean forward, who remains two short of his country’s all-time scoring record, was unable to add to his tally of 56 and was later substituted after an ineffective display in front of goal.

The game changed after the interval. The Czech Republic went in front in the 59th minute when Ladislav Krejci rose above the defence to head in from a long throw delivered by Vladimir Coufal. The European side had earlier shown its aerial strength and took advantage of it for the opener.

South Korea responded eight minutes later with a well-worked equaliser. Lee Kang-in played an incisive through ball to Hwang In-beom, who cut inside and sent a low right-footed effort into the far corner to make it 1-1.

Hwang then played a decisive role in the winning goal, setting up substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, who had come on in place of Son, to score what proved to be the match-winner.

The Czech Republic thought they had found another goal from a dead-ball situation when Thomas Soucek headed in from a free kick, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Their first World Cup match in 20 years therefore ended in defeat after South Korea’s second-half turnaround.