South Korea launched their World Cup campaign with a comeback 2-1 win over Czechia at Estadio Guadalajara, overturning a second-half deficit through goals from Hwang In-beom and substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu. The result leaves Hong Myung-bo’s team on three points in Group A, level with hosts Mexico, while Czechia are left reflecting on missed chances from their trademark set-pieces.

The match shifted decisively late on when Oh arrived from the bench and steered Hwang’s low cross into the bottom-left corner with 10 minutes remaining. That goal followed Hwang’s earlier equaliser, which cancelled out Ladislav Krejci’s header, and came shortly after Tomas Soucek saw a headed effort ruled out for offside as Czechia pressed for a second.

Both sides lined up in mirrored 3-4-3 formations, yet the game highlighted two very different approaches. South Korea controlled possession, circulating the ball with patience and short passing, while Czechia leaned heavily on long throws and free-kicks. That contrast eventually decided the outcome, as sustained pressure from open play wore down Czechia’s set-piece resistance.

Czechia’s main threat came from restarts, just as in UEFA qualifying where the team scored 11 of 22 goals from set-plays. The pattern continued here. In the 59th minute, Vladimir Coufal hurled a long throw towards the six-yard box and Krejci burst through the crowd, powering a header beyond goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who was left stranded by the flat delivery.

South Korea answered quickly, levelling in the 67th minute with the game’s standout move. Lee Kang-in lifted a clever scooped pass to the left channel for Hwang, who produced a sharp drag-back that sent goalkeeper Matej Kovar to ground before curling a precise finish into the far corner from a tight angle on the edge of the area.

Oh added a personal milestone by scoring on a first World Cup appearance, becoming the eighth South Korea player to do so and the fifth to achieve that impact from the bench. South Korea’s dominance in open play, backed by control of key statistics, ensured Czechia’s set-piece strength was not enough to prevent Hong’s side from matching Mexico’s early grip on Group A.