GUADALAJARA, Mexico — After a 16-year wait, South Korea finally began their campaign at the FIFA World Cup with an opening win.
Previous tournaments in 2014 and 2018 saw them falter in the group stage, with their last appearance ending in a dramatic round of 16 qualification marked by a last-minute winner against Portugal.
On Thursday, as they kicked off their Group A match at Estadio Guadalajara, the Taegeuk Warriors initially struggled, trailing 1-0 in the 57th minute. However, a remarkable comeback led by goals from Hwang In-Beom and Oh Hyeon-Gyu secured a 2-1 victory over Czechia, marking their first opening match win since 2010.
The win was justified by South Korea’s commanding 62% possession throughout the match.
However, their inability to convert opportunities into goals initially looked like it might hinder their progress.
As anticipated, South Korea utilized a conservative 5-2-3 formation under coach Hong Myung-Bo, implemented for greater stability after losing key player Park Yong-Woo due to injury. Yet, their proactive approach from the outset demonstrated they were anything but conservative.
The wingbacks, particularly Seol Young-Woo on the right, advanced significantly, allowing the South Korean team to shift towards an aggressive 3-4-3 when they were in possession.
Lee Kang-In began on the flank but often drifted inward to play as the No. 10, contributing to a lively start despite their most threatening attempts in the first half primarily coming from long-range shots.
The first significant effort came in the 14th minute when Lee spotted space outside the box and unleashed a 25-yard shot that forced Czech goalkeeper Matěj Kovář into a sprawling save, although he was expected to make it.
In the 38th minute, Son Heung-Min also attempted a long-range shot, but it went over the bar. The team captain seemed to gain momentum, and just two minutes later, he came close again with a left-footed shot that narrowly missed after spinning past a defender upon receiving the ball just inside the attacking third.
South Korea’s best chance before halftime came when they orchestrated a patient move, which resulted in Son receiving the ball in the box. Rather than shoot, he selflessly passed to Lee Tae-Seok, who should have tried for a goal himself but instead had his cutback intercepted by the Czech defense.
As the second half unfolded, South Korea began to squander chances, yet Kovář’s impressive saves kept them at bay.
A remarkable double save thwarted both Lee Kang-In and Lee Jae-Sung
just four minutes after the restart, and Kovář came up big again to deny Son during a one-on-one, albeit from a tight angle, seven minutes later.
It began to appear that it might not be South Korea’s day when Czechia took the lead against the run of play in the 57th minute.
South Korea’s defense had only appeared vulnerable to high balls, so it was no surprise when a long throw from Vladimír Coufal set up a powerful header from captain Ladislav Krejčí that found the net.
As South Korea struggled to find that finishing touch, midfielder Hwang stepped up to the challenge.
Just ten minutes after conceding, Hwang seized a pass from Lee Kang-In. Despite not being the fastest, he managed to outrun a defender with a clever feint, leaving Kovář flat-footed and lifting the ball gently into the empty net.
South Korea’s frailty at set-pieces almost haunted them again in the 77th minute, though a header from Tomáš Souček was rightly disallowed for offside.
Just three minutes later, South Korea completed their comeback.
Hwang, returning to the role of playmaker, sprinted down the right after receiving a beautiful pass from Paik Seung-Ho and delivered a perfect cross into the box. Oh, who had replaced Son just 11 minutes earlier, powered the ball into the net for the winning goal.
With this victory, South Korea has finally won an opening match at the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
It is a refreshing feeling for them to find themselves in a positive position after just the first game.