South Korea debutant Oh Hyeon-gyu scores dream winner in 16-year first match victory

South Korea staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The victory, secured by goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu, marks a significant moment for the team, as it is their first opening match win in a World Cup finals in 16 years, dating back to the 2010 tournament.

Hwang In-beom was instrumental in the win, not only scoring the crucial equalizer in the 66th minute but also providing the assist for Oh Hyeon-gyu's match-winner in the 80th minute. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award. The team dominated possession with 62% of the ball and outshot their opponents 15 to 7, demonstrating a strong performance despite conceding the first goal.

The Czech Republic took the lead in the 58th minute through a header from Ladislav Krejčí, capitalizing on a long throw-in. However, South Korea responded effectively. Manager Hong Myung-bo made tactical substitutions, bringing on Hwang Hee-chan, Um Ji-sung, and Oh Hyeon-gyu to inject fresh energy into the attack. Oh Hyeon-gyu, a substitute in his World Cup debut, made an immediate impact, scoring the go-ahead goal with a header from a cross by Hwang In-beom.

Despite late pressure from the Czech Republic, who had a header goal disallowed for offside, South Korea held on for the win. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made crucial saves to preserve the lead. The victory places South Korea second in Group A, behind hosts Mexico, who also won their opening match. South Korea will face Mexico next on June 19.

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