Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; June 12: The second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between South Korea and Czechia turned out to be a thrilling encounter filled with high-intensity football. In a match where three goals were scored in the second half, South Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 to start their World Cup campaign on a winning note in Guadalajara’s Zapopan, Mexico.

Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute through Ladislav Krejci, scoring against the run of play. However, South Korea responded strongly, with Hong In-beom scoring a brilliant equaliser in the 67th minute to bring the Asian side back into the contest. Later, it was his assist that led to the winning goal scored by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 80th minute, sealing all three points for South Korea.

This victory marked South Korea’s first winning start in a World Cup campaign since the 2010 edition, adding significance to their comeback performance on the global stage.

The beginning, South Korea dominated possession and controlled the pace of the game. However, their biggest concern remained their star forward Son Heung-min, who needed just two more goals to become the nation’s all-time top scorer. Despite several chances, he failed to convert and was eventually substituted. However, his missed opportunities did not affect the final outcome for South Korea.

South Korea maintained 62 percent possession throughout the match and registered 15 shots on goal, seven of which were on target. Although the scoreline did not fully reflect their dominance, they secured a crucial three points and began their World Cup journey on a positive note.