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Comeback kings South Korea survive dramatic battle with Czech Republic
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Reading Time: 4min | Fri. 12.06.26. | 06:59
The Taegeuk Warriors looked dead and out, but produced a fine end to the game, scoring late through a second half substitute
Drama! Drama!
From looking dead in the water, South Korea survived, clawed back and won!
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After a first half that flattered to deceive, all hell broke loose at the first World Cup match at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, as the much-experienced South Korea produced a big comeback to beat returnees Czech Republic 2-1 in a frenetic match on Friday, 12 June.
Having been tipped as a match that brought technical, progressive football in collision courses against the old route one style, it was the former, possessed by the Taegeuk Warriors that prevailed, but only just.
Trailing to a set-piece header by Ladislav Krejčí at the half-hour mark, the momentum looked to be going to the rugged Czechs on their first return to the World Cup in 20 years, but for a crazy finish from the South Koreans to snatch away victory in dramatic style.
Under the cosh, it was Hwang In Beom who first fired a quick response with a beauty of a dinked finish in the 67th minute, setting the platform for second-half substitute Oh Hyeon-Gyu to snatch a late winner, this after Czech had seen another of their trademark set-piece goals disallowed for offside.
Hours after the storylines to the biggest World Cup in history had been written at Estadio Azteca late Thursday night, it looked a blur in the first 45 minutes of this clash staged infront of a partisan South Korean crowd, basking in the glory of their team making yet another World Cup, a 12th appearance on football's biggest stage.
To go with the proverbial term 'cancelling out each other', that was the phenomenon in a pretty dull first half, which would have fondly wore the marks of uncharacteristic misses from South Korea star man and captain Son Hueng-Min.
On two quick ocassions in the 38th minute, the former Tottenham Hotspur man left many astounded as he failed to hit the mark despite being in sure-fire positions to score, adding to the misery he had presented himself early on in the 11th minute, when one of their rare flowing motions that half ended up with the 33-year-old shooting right at Robin Hranáč.
Czech, having gone through a rough route to the finals for the first time since Germany 2006, were well due with remaining solid at the back, but for the ocassional threat through their fancied set-pieces, which had bore 50 per cent of their goals in the World Cup qualifiers.
When one of their corner inswingers came in in the 21st minute, West Ham man Tomáš Souček was surprised the ball came his way, hitting him instead, and out of bounce,
The understated Matěj Kovář in the Czech goal would make a big save to deny Lee Jae-sung immediately after the break, a moment that somehow spoke of the drama that would ensue in that half.
Simply off the run of play, it was Czech who drew first blood, when a long throw-in from Vladimir Coufal found Krejčí inside the box, to push a header past the keeper for the opener.
A look at the statistics, and it was seven setpiece goals from Czech Republic in their last 14 at a World Cup.
Only if that moment would help them secure another World Cup opener since their last time out against USA in 2006, but for the response from South Korea, who immediately restored parity with a calm dinked finish from Feyenoord midfielder Hwang, who faked a shot on the right, before leaving a couple of defenders, plus Kovar, on the surface.
Game on you thought? Oh yes, as Czech hammered straight back, sticking in yet another headed goal from a set-piece - this time a whipped freekick- but for Soucek to be snapped straying in an offside position.
Seconds later, the clincher, as substitute Oh tapped in a cross from goalscorer Hwang, to turn around the tables, and give the South Koreans a memorable win, and second place in Group A.
WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE
First round
Thursday, 11.06.
Mexico - S.Africa 2-0 (1-0)
/Quiñones 9, Jiménez 67/
Friday, 12. 06.
South Korea - Czech Republic - 2-1 (0-0)
/Hwang In Beom 67, Oh Hyeon-Gyu 80 - Krejčí 59/
22.00: (1.85) Canada (3.70) B&H (4.25)
Saturday, 13.06.
04.00: (2.05) USA (3.35) Paraguay (3.80)
22.00: (12.0) Qatar (5.40) Switzerland (1.28)
Sunday, 14.06.
01.00: (1.62) Brazil (3.80) Morocco (5.80)
04.00: (6.80) Haiti (4.45) Scotland (1.47)
07.00: (4.50) Australia (3.50) Turkey (1.83)
20.00: (1.03) Germany (15.0) Curacao (50.0)
02.00: (2.10) Netherlands (3.45) Japan (3.50)
Monday, 15.06.
02.00: (3.60) Ivory Coast (2.90) Ecuador (2.30)
05.00: (2.00) Sweden (3.35) Tunisia (4.00)
19.00: (1.10) Spain (9.50) Cape Verde (27.0)
22.00: (1.70) Belgium (4.00) Egypt (4.75)
Tuesday 16.06.
01.00: (7.50) Saudi Arabia (4.20) Uruguay (1.47)
04.00: (1.95) Iran (3.35) N.Zealand (4.20)
22.00: (1.47) France (4.50) Senegal (6.75)
***odds are subject to change***
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