'Hong Myung-bo's team saved from the brink': Hwang In-beom's phantom chip shot equalizer! 1-1 comeback against Czech Republic a great success... defense completely outmaneuvered [Live report]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national football team found itself in a crisis after conceding a goal from a Czech Republic set piece, but Hwang In-beom's spectacular chip shot equalizer brought the team back from the brink.

The South Korean national football team (ranked 25th), led by coach Hong Myung-bo, is currently locked in a tight 1-1 battle with the Czech Republic (ranked 41st) in the first match of Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, held at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. on the 12th (Korean time). The Koreans overcame an early second-half goal to reach the draw.

After finishing the first half 0-0, South Korea maintained its 3-4-2-1 formation without any lineup changes for the second half. Son Heung-min (LAFC) led the attack from the front, supported by Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain). The midfield and the three-man defensive line also continued with the same tactics as in the first half. The Czech Republic also began the second half without any lineup changes, fielding Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) and Tomas Soucek (West Ham United).

South Korea took the initiative early in the second half. They relentlessly threatened the Czech goal, aiming for the opening goal. In the 4th minute of the second half, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) attempted a bold right-footed shot, but it was saved by Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar (PSV Eindhoven). Lee Jae-sung quickly chased the loose ball and took another shot, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper's physical defense, leaving him frustrated.

Then, in the 11th minute of the second half, the most perfect opportunity of the match arrived. Son Heung-min received a precise pass from Lee Jae-sung, broke through the Czech defensive line, and found himself in a one-on-one chance against the goalkeeper. Son Heung-min attempted a skillful left-footed chip shot to lift the ball over the keeper, but the shot went straight and was caught by goalkeeper Kovar.

The defensive wall crumbled from a single Czech set piece. In the 14th minute of the second half, a Czech long ball led to chaos in front of the goal. Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton Wanderers), the Czech captain and key defender who joined the attack, rushed into the box with intense focus and headed the ball into the net, shaking South Korea's goal.

Coach Hong Myung-bo immediately made a tactical change after conceding. In the 15th minute of the second half, he substituted Lee Jae-sung for Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Hwang Hee-chan was deployed in the left midfield area where Lee Jae-sung had played, injecting new energy into the attack. The Czech Republic, now leading by one goal, also made a bold move by substituting three players simultaneously. They brought on Michal Sadilek (Slavia Prague), Tomas Horak, and Adam Hlozek (Hoffenheim), while removing Pavel Suler, Patrik Schick, and Lukas Prochazka, completely changing their three-striker line.

With a one-goal lead, the Czech Republic seemed to have no rush and shifted to a purely defensive approach. They dropped their line deep and focused on blocking South Korea's attacks.

However, Hong Myung-bo's team had Hwang In-beom. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Hwang In-beom made a sudden move to perfectly exploit the space behind the Czech defense and penetrated. Inside the box, he completely deceived the rushing goalkeeper Kovar with a feint that stole the timing, disrupting the balance, and then struck the far corner of the Czech goal with a skillful and exquisite right-footed chip shot. It was a spectacular equalizer that completely outmaneuvered the Czech Republic's solid defense.

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*This content was translated by AI.