Lee Kang-in, often dubbed the ‘Golden Boy,’ showcased a performance reminiscent of legendary playmaker Ajjar, leading South Korea to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening match of the 2026 North, Central American and Caribbean World Cup qualifiers. The crucial Group A encounter took place at the Estadio Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dramatic Comeback Secures Vital Win
The first half concluded goalless, with both teams struggling to find the net. However, the Czech Republic broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through Ladislav Krejci of Wolverhampton Wanderers. South Korea, however, responded with resilience. Just eight minutes later, in the 67th minute, Hwang In-beom of Red Star Belgrade netted the equalizer, restoring parity and igniting hope for the Korean squad.
With just ten minutes remaining on the clock, in the 85th minute, the ‘special joker,’ Oh Hyeon-gyu of Vasco da Gama, delivered a stunning breakthrough goal on his World Cup debut, securing a memorable victory for his nation.
Lee Kang-in’s Outstanding Individual Display
The match statistics highlight Lee Kang-in’s pivotal role in the South Korean triumph. He contributed one assist, registered one shot on target, provided three key passes, and achieved an impressive five successful dribbles out of six attempts. Furthermore, he was involved in 14 duels, winning 10 of them.
Crucially, Lee Kang-in maintained a perfect 100% pass success rate in the final third, successfully completing all 18 passes he attempted. This exceptional performance has etched his name in the record books.
Record-Breaking Dribbling Feat
Analysis from football statistics site Opta reveals a significant achievement for Lee Kang-in. His five successful dribbles against the Czech Republic mark a notable feat. According to Opta, no player managed five successful dribbles in a single match during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The last player to achieve this milestone in a World Cup was Ajjar in the 2018 Russia World Cup semi-final against France. Lee Kang-in’s performance now places him in elite company, achieving this record for the first time in eight years.
Player’s Perspective and Future Outlook
Following the match, Lee Kang-in expressed his satisfaction. “I’m so happy that I could help the team,” he stated. “The passes I was able to make were thanks to the good movement of my teammates. I am very grateful to my teammates and also to the players who didn’t get to play in this match. Although those players aren’t mentioned, they cheered us on from behind and supported us.”
He continued, “There have been many events leading up to this World Cup. Many players came in and out of the national team during the qualification process. Some players couldn’t make it to the World Cup due to injuries. I want to express my gratitude and joy to everyone who has supported us up to now, to be able to repay them with a victory like this.”
South Korea’s next challenge is against Mexico on the 19th, at 10 AM Korean time, at the same venue where they faced the Czech Republic. Mexico is managed by Javier Aguirre, who previously worked with Lee Kang-in at Mallorca.
