Did they dare to leave out Son Heung-min? → But Hong Myung-bo's bold move hit the mark... His belief that "we can score, so let's play our game" proved effective.

*This content was translated by AI.

Coach Hong Myung-bo's tactical gamble paid off. He made the bold decision to leave out 'Captain' Son Heung-min (LAFC), and substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) responded with a go-ahead goal. Additionally, by maintaining unwavering belief in his players until the end, he laid the foundation for the comeback win.

The South Korean national team, led by Coach Hong Myung-bo, secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Czech Republic in the first match of Group A of the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup qualifiers, held at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. on the 12th (Korea time). With this result, South Korea earned three valuable points and started the tournament on a high note.

South Korea was drawn into Group A along with host nation Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa. With this win, South Korea moved to second place in Group A, chasing first-place Mexico, who defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match. Third and fourth place are held by Czech Republic and South Africa, both with one loss.

All four teams in Group A are considered to have similar strength. While it is true that qualification from the group stage is likely, competition will inevitably be fierce. In particular, the result of the first match could significantly influence the group stage dynamics. For South Korea, this was a match where points were essential.

However, South Korea found itself on the brink. Despite maintaining favorable momentum throughout the match, they failed to score and instead fell behind 0-1. Although South Korea outshot Czech Republic 8-2 in the first half, they could not find the net and entered the second half tied 0-0. In the 14th minute of the second half, they conceded a header goal from Czech defender Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton).

What saved South Korea was midfielder Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord). In the 22nd minute of the second half, Hwang In-beom scored an equalizer, rescuing the team from crisis. A single brilliant pass from 'Golden Boy' Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) collapsed the Czech defensive line, and Hwang In-beom collected the ball inside the penalty box.

Opposing goalkeepers and defenders quickly converged to block Hwang In-beom. However, he remained calm. Through composed individual skill, he deceived three opposing players, including the goalkeeper, and shook the net with a delicate chip shot.

Coach Hong Myung-bo's trust also played a crucial role. During the hydration break in the middle of the second half, Coach Hong calmed the players to prevent them from losing composure and focused on boosting their confidence.

After the match, Coach Hong Myung-bo told broadcasters in an interview, "I told them we can score, so let's play our game. I also gave instructions on positioning and emphasized not losing focus and not giving up possession."

Coach Hong Myung-bo's substitution strategy also proved successful. After the equalizer, he substituted out Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna) and brought on Oh Hyeon-gyu and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City) to change the attacking lineup. Even though Son Heung-min attempted six shots without scoring, removing the ace was by no means an easy decision. However, Coach Hong made a bold tactical move.

The result was successful. Oh Hyeon-gyu, who came on as a substitute for Son Heung-min, scored the go-ahead goal. In the 35th minute of the second half, Oh Hyeon-gyu, positioned in front of the goal, finished off a pass from Hwang In-beom on the wing. Although Oh Hyeon-gyu was positioned behind the opposing defenders, he took one extra step to create a shooting opportunity and sealed the victory.

The score was overturned to 2-1. South Korea held off Czech Republic's attacks until the very end, securing three valuable points from their first World Cup match.

After the match, Coach Hong Myung-bo praised his players. He said, "It was a difficult match from the first game of the World Cup. But throughout the process, we did not give up and won until the end. This will have a positive effect on the team." He added, "I want to tell the players congratulations."

Now, the focus of Coach Hong's team shifts to the second group stage match against Mexico. Coach Hong stated, "The match against Mexico has become an important game. We will prepare well over the remaining week."

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*This content was translated by AI.