South Korea dominated the opening exchanges, but it was the Czechs who opened the scoring with their first shot on target.
By Kehinde Okeowo
South Korea made a winning start to a World Cup campaign for the first time in four editions after defeating the Czech Republic at the Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Asian team came from behind to defeat their European counterparts 2-1 in a highly intriguing encounter.
South Korea dominated the opening exchanges, but it was the Czechs who opened the scoring with their first shot on target. Their captain, Ladislav Krejci, rose to head home a long throw from Vladimir Coufal in the 59th minute.
Prior to this, former Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, captaining his nation, had attempted five of the Taegeuk Warriors’ eight efforts in the first half, but his biggest chance was blocked by keeper Matej Kovar.
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However, Hwang In-beom came to his country’s rescue when he found the equaliser just eight minutes after the Czech opener.
The Feyenoord defensive midfielder deceived Kovar, who had rushed off his line, with a fake shot before scooping the ball over the Czech goalkeeper and into an unguarded net to make it 1-1.
South Korea thought they had been undone by another Czech set-piece in the 78th minute when Tomas Soucek nodded home a free-kick from the left. However, Hong Myung-bo’s side were handed a reprieve as the goal was ruled out for offside.
Hong’s men eventually completed the turnaround when substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winning goal in the 80th minute of their World Cup Group A opener.
