Heung-Min Son Struggles as South Korea Triumphs Over Czechia in World Cup Opener

In a gripping World Cup opener, South Korea's captain Heung-Min Son faced challenges, missing key opportunities against Czechia. Despite his struggles, the team rallied to secure a 2-1 victory, showcasing resilience and determination. The match featured dramatic moments, including a viral incident involving a wayward shot from Son. South Korea's comeback was highlighted by goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu, marking a successful start to their World Cup campaign. Read on to explore the match's key highlights and Son's performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 12, 2026, 11:15 IST

Heung-Min Son's Missed Opportunities

Captain Heung-Min Son of South Korea faced a challenging start in the FIFA World Cup, squandering several scoring opportunities against Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium. As this could be his final World Cup appearance, Son aimed for a strong beginning but disappointed fans with his performance. He had a chance to score in the 12th minute, yet his attempt went wide. Another opportunity arose before halftime, but he stumbled at a crucial moment, missing the chance. In the 53rd minute, his shot was saved by Czech goalkeeper Matěj Kovar. Son was substituted in the 69th minute, making way for Oh Hyeon-gyu, who later scored a pivotal goal in the 80th minute.

This clip just sums up Heung min Son’s performance tonight 😭 pic.twitter.com/jU1oJJ41OM https://t.co/nqiDvWG4c4
— Ezzy (@EzzyMUFC) June 12, 2026

Additionally, one of his shots went over the net, accidentally hitting a fan, which quickly became a viral moment on social media.

Dünya kupası Güney kore - Çekya maçında heung-Min Son şutu taraftar yerle bir oluyor. pic.twitter.com/eAfOUrHOvP
— 1905𝑅 𝐼̇ 𝑇 𝐼̇ 𝑀 𓃬 (@1905ritim) June 12, 2026

South Korea's Comeback Victory

South Korea Comes Back From Behind To Stun Czechia

Despite Son's struggles, South Korea managed to secure a 2-1 victory against Czechia, marking a successful start to their World Cup journey. After several missed chances, the team found themselves trailing when Czechia's Ladislav Krejci scored in the 59th minute. However, South Korea responded quickly, with Hwang In-beom equalizing in the 67th minute. As the match intensified, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute, allowing South Korea to maintain their lead until the final whistle, clinching a thrilling win.