Beşiktaş · Friendlies · Attacker · #9 · Korea Republic · 24 yrs
Bafana Bafana qualified for the last 32 as Thapelo Maseko hit the only goal in their Group A match against South KoreaSouth Korea is in red. South Africa is in yellow. The referees are in black, and Tello blows the whistle.I was worried for a bit that we’d start without a word from Peter Oh: “I’m looking forward to this clash of the Souths, and hoping that Oh Hyeon-gyu (no relation, unfortunately) has another ooh-aah moment. His winner against Czechia was oh so nice!” Continue reading...
With the qualification to the next round still up for grabs, Son Heung-min has been excluded from South Korea's starting lineup for the last group phase game against South Africa. South Korea heads into Matchday 3 of Group A with its qualification for the Round of 32 still hanging in the balance ahead of their final group match against South Africa at Estadio Monterrey. However, in a bold and shocking move, captain Son Heung-min has been left on the substitute bench for this decisive game. Son will begin the match on the bench due to a tactical decision by head coach Hong Myung-bo. While the Tottenham superstar is fully fit, he has struggled to produce in front of goal during the first two matches, prompting the manager to utilize him as a super-sub against South Africa instead. Instead, the starting frontline will feature PSG’s Lee Kang-in on the right wing, Hwang Hee-chan on the left, and Oh Hyeon-gyu leading the attack as the central striker. With this tactical adjustment, the South Korean manager has opted for the physicality of the Besiktas forward to serve as a target man against the athletic South African backline. Son’s struggles in this tournament trace back to the opening match against Czechia, where he took six shots but failed to find the back of the net. Just two minutes after Hwang In-beom scored a 67th-minute equalizer, Son was substituted for Oh Hyeon-gyu, who went on to score the game-winning goal in the 80th minute. Heung-Min Son #7 of Korea Republic shoots while Raul Rangel #1 of Mexico attempts to save. A similar situation unfolded during the second group match against Mexico. Son once again struggled to create dangerous chances, aside from a shot cleared off the line by Edson Alvarez, and was replaced by Oh early in the second half in the 57th minute in what would end up being a 1-0 defeat against El Tri. A rare bench appearance for the Korean captain Following his breakthrough onto soccer’s biggest stage, Son Heung-min quickly established himself as the undisputed superstar and captain of the South Korean national team. However, starting tonight’s critical match against South Africa on the sidelines marks an incredibly rare moment in the legendary forward’s international career. Since making his tournament debut in 2014, Son has featured in all 12 of South Korea’s World Cup matches across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cup campaigns. He had started every single one of those fixtures and was subbed off just four times, making this clash against South Africa the first World Cup game of his career that he will watch from the dugout at kickoff.
Besiktas striker Oh Hyeon-gyu scored South Korea's winner against Czechia at the World Cup, having overcome a pre-match bout of illness. The post South Korea hero Oh reveals he played through illness in World Cup opener appeared first on SoccerNews.
South Korea were able to come back to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in their World Cup debut. With the 2026 World Cup kicking off a few hours earlier, these teams were making their debuts to close out Group A action. In a very entertaining match, South Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1. The first half offered few clear chances as both teams struggled to break through. Son Heung-min had a few chances but was not as precise as usual, sending South Korea and the Czech Republic into halftime tied 0-0. All the excitement came in the second half. When South Korea were the better side, a long throw into the box from the Czech Republic put them ahead with a header from Ladislav Krejčí. That was not the end for South Korea, who pushed back with a great goal from Hwang In-beom and a finish from Oh Hyeon-gyu.
A dramatic late winner from Oh Hyeon-gyu has propelled South Korea to a crucial 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, shaking up the early dynamics of Group A. The opening round of fixtures for Group A of the 2026 World Cup is officially in the books, and the landscape is already proving to be incredibly compelling. Following Mexico’s 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, the action shifted to Guadalajara, where South Korea secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. The European side struck first in the 58th minute when towering defender Ladislav Krejci found the back of the net, silencing the energetic South Korean contingent at the Guadalajara Stadium However, the Asian powerhouse refused to back down; midfielder Hwang In-beom leveled the score with a clinical 66th-minute strike, setting the stage for a grandstand finish. The decisive blow came in the 80th minute when substitute forward Oh Hyeon-gyu turned his marker inside the box and slotted home a dramatic late winner to secure all 3 points for his country. This result fundamentally alters the early balance of power in the group. While co-hosts Mexico still command first place on goal difference (+2), South Korea sits right alongside them at the top of the table with 3 points (+1). Group A standings Meanwhile, the Czech Republic and South Africa find themselves anchored to the bottom of Group A after matchday one, both facing a steep uphill battle to keep their knockout stage dreams alive. What’s next for Group A? With Matchday 1 officially in the books, the focus immediately shifts to a high-stakes second round of group fixtures, which will take place entirely on Thursday, June 18. Kickstarting the action, South Africa and the Czech Republic will square off at the Atlanta Stadium. Both nations are desperately hunting for points after dropping their openers, making this a must-win scenario to keep their World Cup knockout stage hopes alive. Later that evening, the two group leaders will go head-to-head as co-hosts Mexico take on South Korea at the Guadalajara Stadium. It’s an early battle for supremacy in Group A, and with both teams sitting on 3 points, a victory for either side could mathematically punch their ticket to the Round of 32.
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