Hyeongyu Oh scored South Korea’s World Cup winner while battling a 38-degree fever, and Celtic supporters will know exactly why that comes as no surprise.
Oh came off the bench to score South Korea’s winner in a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic, finding the net in the 79th minute to send his country to the top of Group A.
Oh told the Sunday Mail, “I had a fever before the game and my temperature was up at 38 degrees.
“But for me to score in a game like this was the best moment in my career.”
🙌 Oh continues his post-Celtic rise with a World Cup winner for South Korea!
Celtic fans already knew what Hyeongyu Oh was made of
During his time in Glasgow, Oh was never the most technically gifted forward at the club. What he did bring was energy, determination and a willingness to battle for every ball.
Those qualities were on full display at the World Cup. The striker revealed he was far from fully fit heading into the match but still found a way to make the decisive contribution.
The illness makes the moment even more significant for Oh
Scoring a World Cup winner is memorable enough. Doing it after battling illness elevates the achievement further.
The former Celtic man entered the game and changed it when his country needed him most, displaying the same determination supporters regularly saw during his time at Parkhead.
His goal was his first on the World Cup stage. It was also a reminder of the character that often helped him make an impact during his time at Parkhead.
Oh has a quality Celtic badly need
Oh’s display also highlighted the type of relentless physical commitment and resilience that can still be valuable in Celtic’s attacking options.
The Scottish champions have quality in forward areas, but players willing to fight through adversity and make a difference in difficult moments are always valuable assets.
That does not mean Celtic were wrong to move on from him. It does, however, highlight a mentality that remains highly effective at the highest level.
A deserved moment on the biggest stage
Now at Beşiktaş, Oh continues to progress in his career. His first World Cup goal will likely be remembered as one of the defining moments of it.
For Celtic supporters, though, the biggest takeaway is that this was not a surprise. It was another example of the battling qualities they saw during his time at Parkhead, this time displayed on football’s biggest stage.
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