World Cup highlights: Mexico begin with win as South Korea outlast Czech Republic

[p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xqGVpLURhtgr9Yugoby8y?si=cmpATz6KRey_MB7OL6uG2w"][b]Listen to an audio version of this article on Spotify here.[/b][/a][/p][p]Throughout the tournament, [i][b]Flashscore[/b][/i] will bring you the best from the tournament in our World Cup highlights each and every day, so you don't miss a moment of the action.[/p][h2]The headlines[/h2][p]Strikes from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hwang-in-beom/6Jo7zpif/"]Hwang In-Beom[/a] and substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oh-hyun-gyu/xrhecmZN/"]Oh Hyeon-Gyu[/a] saw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] start their campaign with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/czech-republic-6LHwBDGU/south-korea-K6Gs7P6G/?mid=CGdvIm6K"]a 2-1 win[/a] over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/6LHwBDGU/"]Czech Republic[/a] in Guadalajara.[/p][p]In-Beom levelled the scoring with a tap-in midway through the second half, after the Czechs took the lead as they used their deadliest weapon - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krejci-ladislav/nZ8SVvvE/"]Ladislav Krejci[/a] at set-pieces.[/p][p]The captain, who scored from set plays in both play-off wins, was on hand once more to head home a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/coufal-vladimir/n92l9Tl1/"]Vladimir Coufal[/a] throw-in from close range.[/p][p]But the Koreans, who, across the encounter, were the better side, had Hyeon-Gyu to thank for all three points as he deftly chipped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kovar-matej/tIXuiy4C/"]Matej Kovar[/a] to settle the tie.[/p][image alt="South Korea - Czech Republic match momentums" id="8e999bd4-9247-4c2d-bc56-5b73ace25bc2" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="bcbb0750-f5c5-488e-a371-0661af8aa8e4" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Earlier on in the day, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] got their campaign off to the perfect start on home soil with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/mexico-O6iHcNkd/south-africa-W2ijYvlr/?mid=h4EoUB7T"]a 2-0 victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] in a contest punctuated with three red cards.[/p][p]Goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quinones-julian/dQkfXJPR/"]Julian Quinones[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jimenez-raul/ENwqg0Pd/"]Raul Jimenez[/a] earned the hosts all three points, but the biggest talking points were the dismissals from Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio. The first, given to South Africa’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yaya-sithole/8QxUv8F5/"]Yaya Sithole[/a] for denying a goalscoring opportunity, was warranted; however, the second and third were far more egregious from the officials. [/p][p]Given it was the first game of the tournament, it could set a precedent that referees are being harsher with their cards.[/p][p]To put the red card fest into perspective, across the whole of the 2022 World Cup, there were four dismissals; we've had three already.[/p][h2]Player of the day[/h2][p]Using [i][b]Flashscore[/b][/i]'s new-and-improved player rating system, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lee-kangin/YTVIJfxO/"]Lee Kang-In[/a] of South Korea was our player of the day.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] forward was at his skilful best in Guadalajara, with five dribbles completed as well as 10 out of 14 duels won, and he was at the heart of everything good for the Koreans.[/p][p]He also assisted their first goal with a sumptuous cross into the path of In-Beom to finish.[/p][image alt="Lee Kang-In's stats against the Czech Republic" id="ead86ab9-976d-4195-970f-37111ce9c021" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / Paul Childs / Reuters" guid="9e679140-bd5e-449c-bafa-88650a927dfe" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]Goal of the day[/h2][p]It may not have been the most spectacular goal you will ever see, but Jimenez's headed effort for Mexico was certainly the most emotional.[/p][p]The 35-year-old, who announced a day before the opener that he would be heading back to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wolves/j3Azpf5d/"]Wolves[/a], was visibly in tears during his celebration, pointing to the sky in tribute to his late father.[/p][p]It was also his first-ever World Cup goal, too, made even more important by the fact it came on home soil.[/p][image alt="Jimenez's goal for Mexico" id="2d89f9d1-9574-4187-b331-ec835777c818" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynskih)" guid="230d24d9-906c-41bc-83c5-22cec21538e4" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]Fan(s) of the day[/h2][p]The atmosphere inside the Mexico City Stadium - more affectionately known as Estadio Azteca - was incredible, giving this controversial World Cup the shot in the arm it needed. With a partisan crowd in attendance, it didn’t take long for the first 'Mexican Wave' to be seen inside the ground, but the image of their nation embracing after Quinones’ opener will be what lives long in the memory.[/p][embed guid="6b1afa50-5666-4564-86f2-9669458cad1f" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2065248048809136473" social-type="twitter" /][p]It’s a shame, then, that this iconic World Cup venue will not see a game past the round of 16.[/p][h2]Best from social media[/h2][p]South Africa may have lost their opening game of the World Cup, but they certainly began in style. They brought their rhythm and moves to the Azteca on their arrival.[/p][embed guid="34e3f8f3-1326-4993-95bb-9c956684fb7c" url="https://x.com/_owurakuampofo/status/2065136743817347159" social-type="twitter" /][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]