Substitute Oh Hyeon-Gu gave South Korea a winning start to the World Cup as they came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1.

Oh struck 11 minutes from time after Hwang In-Beom's moment of magic had cancelled out Czech captain Ladislav Krejcí's header in Guadalajara.

South Korea made the brighter start, Son Heung-Min firing over with Lee Han-Beom heading over the bar before Paris St Germain's Lee Kang-In forced a save from Matej Kovár with an effort from outside the box.

The Czechs, playing in their first World Cup since 2006, struggled to carve out any chances and the Koreans ended the first half with a flurry of opportunities.

Son again fired over and curled a shot wide of Kovar's post before the former Tottenham striker was unable to meet a return cross into the box in added time.

Hwang and Lee Jae-Sung were denied by Kovar to start the second half, the goalkeeper also denying Son before the Czechs went ahead with their first real chance - Krejci, who spent last season on loan at Wolves, meeting Vladimír Coufal's long throw unmarked.

The lead lasted just eight minutes, Hwang finally converting a Korean chance as his check back sent Kovar and Robin Hranác past the ball and he was able to find the empty net.

Ulises RUIZ / AFP via Getty Images

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West Ham midfielder Tomás Soucek had a headed effort ruled out for a clear offside and within three minutes, Oh turned in Hwang's low cross via Kovar's hand, although Korea needed a pair of fine saves by Kim Seung-Gyu to wrap up all three points.