GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Daniel Muñoz was the key player for Colombia, successfully breaking past the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s solid defense to ensure his team’s advancement to the World Cup knockout stage with a 1-0 victory on Tuesday night.
In the 76th minute, Muñoz scored a decisive goal after Colombia struggled against Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made five notable saves during the first 20 minutes of play. Muñoz’s goal came from a left-footed strike inside the penalty area, boosted by a deflection off a defender. This marked his second goal in the tournament.
Congo had their opportunities and almost equalized twice during stoppage time. Colombia’s goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas, showcased his skill by saving a long-range shot from Nathanael Mbuku and then blocking a header by Chancel Mbemba from the following corner kick.
Colombian forward Luis Díaz experienced disappointment with two disallowed goals late in the second half. The first was overturned for a foul in the 79th minute, and the second for offside in the 80th.
Congo opened their World Cup campaign, their first in 52 years, with a surprising 1-1 draw against Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Currently, Colombia leads Group K with six points from two matches, standing two points ahead of Portugal and five ahead of Congo. Portugal had a strong performance earlier on Tuesday, defeating Uzbekistan 5-0 with Ronaldo scoring twice in Houston.
For Colombia, a draw against Portugal on Saturday will allow them to win the group. This outcome would also enable Portugal to advance to the knockout stage.
Colombia, ranked 11th globally, is the third highest-ranked team from South America, trailing only Brazil and Argentina. They started their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan.
Congo, ranked 47th, faced challenges in their World Cup preparations due to an Ebola outbreak, which restricted many of their fans from traveling to the tournament.
DR Congo enthusiast Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, known as Lumumba Vea, attended the match at Guadalajara Stadium on Tuesday. He is notable for posing as a statue of Congo’s assassinated independence hero, Patrice Lumumba, during the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite missing Congo’s first game due to quarantine measures, he maintained his statue-like pose throughout the game.
In their 23 World Cup appearances, Colombia has never played in a scoreless match.
Playmaker James Rodríguez joined the ranks of Colombian legends Freddy Rincón and Carlos Valderrama, marking his 10th World Cup appearance.
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