Hwang In-pyum led South Korea to their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating the Czech Republic 2-1 on Thursday at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara in Group A.
Hwang scored the equalizer for his country (67) and provided an assist in the second goal scored by substitute Oh Hyun-gyu (80), after Ladislav Krzyš took the lead for the Czech Republic (59).
At the 44,000-capacity Akron Stadium, where a number of seats appeared empty, amid the presence of Mexican fans, the lights were on former Tottenham star and Los Angeles American player Son Heung-min, who produced a strong first-half performance, but substitute Hyun-gyu scored the winning goal.
Son and his teammates repeatedly tried to open the scoring with more than 10 chances in the first half-hour, most notably through the Los Angeles FC star with a close-range shot from the right post (39), a second saved by goalkeeper Matty Kuvar (59), as he did against Hwang In-byum and Lee Jae-sung twice (49).
In contrast, Creech stunned the Korean team with a header from a long touch shot by Vladimir Koval (59).
Korean Remontada
But Hwang In-pyum levelled the score when Lee Kang-in received the ball, manipulated goalkeeper and defender Rubin Hranac, putting the ball over Kuvar (67), and Son exited in the 69th minute, leaving his place for Turkish Besiktas striker Hyun-gyu.
Tomáš Suček thought he had added the second for the Czech Republic with a header followed up a shot from the set piece, but the referee did not count it for offside (77).
Late Decision
From a coordinated attack, the ball reached In-baum on the right flank, who played it past substitute Hyun-gyu who followed it into the goal (80).
Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu kept Korea in the lead twice by saving the tries of nearby substitutes Adam Hlogic (82) and Michal Sadilik (90).
Mexico topped the group after beating South Africa 2-0 in the opening game of the tournament, ahead of South Korea by a goal.
The Korean national team succeeded in achieving its first victory over its Czech counterpart in the World Cup finals, after three previous friendly meetings (won one, lost the same and drew once).
Three expulsions in Mexico's win
Mexico sparked World Cup celebrations after the tournament co-host beat South Africa 2-0 on Thursday in a match that saw three expulsions, after the opening fireworks left a cloud of red fog at the bustling Azteca Stadium.
The match signalled the start of the massive four-year football festival, yet fans are likely to remember this humble match not because of the sensational performances from both teams, but because of the expulsions it witnessed.
Julian Quiñones' early shot paved the way for Mexico's dominance in the Group A match, and Raul Jiménez's header midway through the second half removed any remaining tension among the home fans.
South Africa finished the game with 10 men when Sevelo Sithole was sent off early in the second half, followed by teammate Themba Zwane off the pitch, before Mexico's Cesar Montes was sent off in stoppage time.
The tense encounter spoiled the celebratory atmosphere, but the hosts celebrated an opening win that put Mexico in a good position to qualify from the group, which also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic, but the hosts' performance did not convince demanding coach Javier Aguirre.
"We should have (decided) this game 4-0. We didn't play well enough, but people are happy. It's the start of the World Cup and we've taken the stress off and now we've got three points. We are thinking about the next step."
The day of beginnings
The day was full of things happening for the first time at the World Cup, with the first edition of the 48-team tournament, the first to be held in three countries, kicking off at the first stadium to host three World Cup openers.
It was fitting that Mexico, in the first match of the 104-match World Cup for the first time, should win their opening campaign after failing in seven previous attempts. Of course, this was the first World Cup opener to see three red cards.
The match was a repeat of the opening match of the tournament in 2010, when South Africa drew 1-1 with Mexico in Johannesburg, but today's match was played at a historic World Cup stadium.
The Azteca Stadium witnessed some of the tournament's most iconic moments, from Diego Maradona's famous "Hand of God" goal in 1986 to Brazil's 1970 dominance of Pele's Brazil.
While there was no such special moment in today's match, it didn't matter to the fans who wore green, who were in a state of intense excitement before the match began.
With the match taking place amid protests that threatened to paralyze Mexico City, the fans did not venture and many were already wandering around the stadium nearly seven hours before kick-off.
Mexico Starts Strong
The opening ceremony in which Shakira and Borna Boy performed the World Cup song increased the enthusiasm of the crowd before Mexico quickly started the match.
Just a few minutes into the game, Jimenez fired a powerful shot from 12 yards that South Africa goalkeeper Ronwyn Williams saved with his fingertips, but the first goal of the tournament was not delayed.
Lyra pressed Sithole to snatch the ball on the edge of the box, after Mexico coach Aguirre preferred to push it into midfield at the expense of captain Edson Alvarez, to pass the ball to Quinones, who evaded a defender inside the area before firing a powerful low shot from between Williams' legs.
South Africa were trying to hold on to their hope as the first half approached, and the second half started at the same pace.
Sithole received his first red card after he stopped Bryan Gutierrez's shot into the box, and his violent tackle from behind caused him to be sent off, in a frustrating end to the midfielder's evening.
Fans were starting to feel a little worried that Mexico would not be able to capitalise on their numerical advantage and score another goal, but that frustration faded when Jimenez scored his first World Cup goal with a powerful header that sent the ball down past Williams after a superb cross from Roberto Alvarado.
The suspensions dominated the end of the match, with Zwani sent off after reviewing VAR technology for hitting a Mexican player with his hand, while Montes sent off the hosts' defender for preventing him from scoring a goal.
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