Two-Minute Twist: Imbeom, Hyeongyu Inspire South Korea To 2-1 Comeback Win Against Czechia

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 09:44 IST

South Korea came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1, with Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu sealing a deserved comeback victory in Group A at World Cup 2026.

South Korea produced the first comeback victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overturning a second-half deficit to defeat Czech Republic 2-1 and kick off their campaign in style.

For long stretches, it looked as though the Koreans might be left frustrated by their inability to convert chances. But a dramatic two-minute spell in the second half completely transformed the contest, helping South Korea join Mexico at the top of Group A after the co-hosts’ opening-day victory over South Africa.

Son Leads The Charge In Dominant First Half

The scoreline remained goalless at halftime, but South Korea were comfortably the better side.

Captain Son Heung-min was at the heart of nearly everything positive, repeatedly finding pockets of space and testing the Czech defence. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, however, the Koreans lacked the clinical edge needed to turn their dominance into goals.

The Czech Republic gradually grew into the contest as the half wore on, managing to weather the pressure and head into the break level at 0-0.

Krejci Strikes First, Imbeom Follows

The game burst into life after the restart.

Against the run of play, Czech captain Ladislav Krejci stunned South Korea by powering home a header from a long throw-in, giving his side a 1-0 lead and threatening to punish the Koreans for their earlier wastefulness.

For a brief moment, it looked like the Czechs were on course for a smash-and-grab victory.

But then South Korea responded almost immediately.

Just eight minutes after falling behind, Hwang In-beom produced a moment of quality, showing remarkable composure and skill to carve through the Czech defence before finding the equaliser.

The goal lifted the Koreans and shifted momentum firmly back in their favour.

Two Minutes That Changed Everything

The defining moment of the match came in a frantic two-minute sequence.

Tomas Soucek thought he had restored the Czech lead, only for the offside flag to deny him. Moments later, South Korea raced up the other end and completed the turnaround.

Oh Hyeon-gyu timed his run perfectly before sliding in from close range to tap home the winner, sending the Korean supporters into celebration.

Korea’s Persistence Pays Off

It was a deserved victory for a South Korean side that played the more proactive football throughout the contest.

After dominating possession, creating the better chances and refusing to be rattled by Krejci’s opener, the Koreans finally got the reward their performance deserved.

With three points secured, South Korea now sit level with Mexico atop Group A and have given themselves a strong platform heading into the rest of the tournament.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

News sports football Two-Minute Twist: Imbeom, Hyeongyu Inspire South Korea To 2-1 Comeback Win Against Czechia

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