Korea strike late to edge Czechs

South Korea opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, finally capitalising on their dominance after wasting several earlier chances. For much of the match it appeared the Koreans would pay for their profligacy, but substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu delivered the winner in the 80th minute inside a sparsely filled Guadalajara stadium.

South Korea controlled the first half, with Son Heung-min driving their attacks. The former Tottenham forward fired over once and then weaved past two defenders before dragging his shot wide. Despite their pressure, the breakthrough never came.

The Czechs struck first after the interval, as Ladislav Krejci met a front-post cross with a powerful header beyond Kim Seung-gyu. Korea responded on 67 minutes when Hwang In-beom cleverly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Matej Kovar to equalise.

The Czechs briefly thought they had regained the lead, but a disallowed goal preceded Hwang’s pinpoint cross for Oh’s composed finish. Son collapsed in relief at full-time.