Fever on fire: Oh overcomes illness to inspire South Korea to opening-day win

Former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu revealed he overcame a debilitating fever to become a South Korean hero as he scored a dramatic late winner against the Czech Republic in the FIFA World Cup opener on Thursday (June 11).

The Taeguk Warriors maintained their reputation as second-half specialists, battling from a goal down at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, to secure a crucial 2-1 win to start their Group A campaign in style.

Oh, who plays his club football for Turkish Super League giants Besiktas, was a major doubt ahead of the start following illness. However, the 25-year-old forward was introduced in the 69th minute by manager Hong Myung-bo, who replaced Tottenham Hotspur’s talisman Son Heung-min.

It took just 11 minutes for the super sub to make it through. In the 80th minute, Oh found space in the penalty area to slot in a clinical finish to spark wild celebrations among the traveling South Korean contingent.

Speaking to reporters after the match, an emotional Oh paid tribute to the national team’s backroom staff for preparing him for the match.

“I can’t explain my emotions in words,” Oh said. “My body temperature rose to 38 degrees Celsius today because I didn’t feel well. I wondered if I could even play. It was only possible because of our staff and the medical team.”

The match earlier looked set to get off to a disappointing start for South Korea. After a tense, goalless first half, the Czech Republic broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, when defender Ladislav Krejc rose to the top and headed home.

In its form, South Korea refused to capitulate. They found a lifeline in the 67th minute when midfielder Hwang In-beom equalized with a fine strike to set the stage for Oh’s heroic save.

Manager Hong Myung-bo praised the mental resilience of his players and highlighted that the team’s refusal to give up was the most encouraging takeaway from a tough opening game.

“It was our first game and very tough,” Hong said at the post-match press conference. “The win itself makes me happy, but what’s even more positive is that our boys won by not giving up. I knew we were more than capable of winning, so at 1-1 I told the boys to keep playing the way we played.”

With the three points safely secured, South Korea now turn their attention to an epic clash with co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca next week – a match that could decide the Group A winners.

“Now Mexico is another important match,” Hong added. “We’ll spend the next week preparing properly.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

12 Jun 2026 14:10 IST