(World Cup) Former nat'l team reserve shines with winning goal vs. Czechia
2026.06.12 13:38
(World Cup) Former nat'l team reserve shines with winning goal vs. Czechia
ZAPOPAN, Mexico, June 11 (Yonhap) -- At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu was a non-roster training partner, an up-and-comer who got his first taste of the big tournament, however indirectly, in workouts with the rest of the team.
On this June night in Mexico, Oh stormed into the national football lore by scoring the go-ahead goal that lifted South Korea past Czechia 2-1 in their first Group A match of the competition.
Oh broke the 1-1 deadlock in the 80th minute at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico. He had come on in the 69th minute to replace captain Son Heung-min as the striker, and made the most of his limited action on the pitch.
The 25-year-old forward for Besiktas enjoyed a solid first season for the Turkish outfit, netting eight goals in 16 matches in all competitions this past season. With Son struggling to find the back of the net for Los Angeles Football Club, it was not a stretch to say Oh had the best form among South Korean attackers entering the World Cup.
However, Oh didn't think he would even be able to play in Thursday's match.
Oh revealed afterward he had a fever that reached 38 C earlier in the day and it was only thanks to the help of the team's medical staff that he even had a chance to be the hero.
"I can't even describe these feelings," Oh said in a televised interview. "I am so grateful just to have a chance to play at the World Cup. Thankfully, the coach gave me a chance to take the field and I was able to score a goal that helped us win. I feel very fortunate."
It was fitting that Oh subbed in for Son in the second half. In Qatar, Son was playing through a facial injury that forced him to wear a protective mask during matches. Oh was chosen as a potential insurance in case Son couldn't go, but Son ended up playing all four South Korean matches in that tournament and left Oh on the outside looking in.
In Thursday's match, Son misfired on a couple of chances late in the first half and was pulled earlier than expected. At least on this occasion, South Korea didn't need their longtime captain to do the heavy lifting, as Oh came through with the biggest goal of his career.
The goal was set up by veteran midfielder Hwang In-beom, who had netted the equalizer after the Czechs opened the scoring just before the hour mark.
Hwang was a question mark for the World Cup earlier in the year, when an ankle injury in March knocked the Feyenoord midfielder out for the rest of his Dutch league season.
Losing Hwang, an intelligent orchestrator of offense from the midfield, would have been a huge blow for South Korea. The national team medical staff helped with Hwang's rehab and the 29-year-old recovered in time to make his mark Thursday.
On the tying goal, Hwang received a pass from Lee Kang-in and found himself surrounded by goalkeeper Matej Kovar and a couple of defenders. Though he has never been known for his goal-scoring prowess -- he had just six in 73 matches before Thursday -- Hwang displayed the kind of poise and composure usually seen in top-notch strikers, as he chipped the ball into the far corner of the open net.
The assist on Oh's goal was vintage Hwang, as he ran down the right flank and threaded the cross to just the right spot for the forward to tuck it home.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
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