Right after Korea clinched a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Czech Republic, Czech coach Miroslav Koubek entered the press room and could not hide his disappointment for a while. As he explained the cause of the defeat, a sigh-tinged exclamation finally escaped his lips.

“I don’t know how a goalkeeper can stop a shot hit from so close.”

Shaking his head from side to side, Koubek spoke on with an expression of emptiness. The goalkeeper he mentioned was Korea’s last line, Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo).

Led by coach Hong Myung-bo, Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in a comeback win in the Group A opener of the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico on the 12th (KST).

Korea fell behind to an opener by Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute but turned it around with back-to-back goals from Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) in the 67th minute and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) in the 80th minute.

At the center of the comeback was Kim Seung-gyu.

There was regret about the concession, but afterward he repeatedly stopped Czech shots at every decisive moment, preserving Korea’s victory. Especially in the closing stages as the Czechs launched an all-out assault, his saves were virtually as valuable as goals.

From the Czech perspective, two clear-cut chances were denied by Kim. When even a point-blank effort right in front of goal was blocked, Czech players clutched their heads, and groans erupted from the bench.

The highlight came in stoppage time. Michal Sadilek’s fiercely struck shot amid a scramble in front of goal was instinctively batted away by Kim. It was the moment the Czechs’ last hope disappeared.

Even in the post-match press conference, Koubek seemed unable to forget that moment.

He said, “We had chances to score as well. It was a match we could have won,” but added, “When a goalkeeper stops a shot like that, there’s nothing you can do.”

In the mixed zone for the Korea team, Kim Seung-gyu’s face was also full of the afterglow of victory.

He said, “Among ourselves we talked a lot about how we had to take the first game,” and, “We conceded first, but I’m really happy we all came from behind to get the result.”

On his saves, he said, “We were controlling the game, and if we had lost, it could have turned into blame on the defense or the goalkeeper,” adding, “After we took the lead, I’m glad I was able to help the team at the end with a save.”

In 2024, Kim underwent two surgeries for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. At the time, the situation was so serious he even had to worry about whether he could continue his career. “Even a year ago I was wondering whether I could stand on the pitch again,” he said. “Beating the injury, starting at the World Cup, and even taking the winit feels like a small reward for the hard times.”

On the eve of the World Cup came another joy: a video call with his newborn daughter before the match. Kim said with a laugh, “Strangely, today my daughter had her eyes open and was looking at me,” adding, “I think that sight gave me strength.”

His fourth World Cup after Brazil (2014), Russia (2018), and Qatar (2022). And back on the World Cup stage after passing through the long tunnel of an ACL rupture. On this night in Guadalajara, Kim Seung-gyu was the final barrier the Czechs could not overcome.