Colombia break DR Congo's resistance late to breeze into World Cup knockouts

Daniel Munoz scored a late winner for Colombia as they got past DR Congo 1-0 at the Estadio Guadalajara early Wednesday morning, a result that saw them book their place into the last 32, having won both of their opening group matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news

The Crystal Palace full-back was at hand to sneak in a low deflected finish past Lionel Mpasi in the 76th minute, earning Colombia a well-deserved victory that saw them dominate large portions of the game, and denied three goals for offside.

From a machine gun to firing blanks: Queiroz's Black Stars tame Three Lions

Up until the moment Munoz scored his second goal of the tournament, Colombia looked set for a hugely frustrating evening, this as DR Congo keeper Mpasi produced save-after-save, to keep his side in the game.

His exploits were ultimately not to be, as Colombian pressure finally told, leaving The Leopards third in Group K, and needing a win against Uzbekistan on their final matchday to harbor hopes of a place in the knockouts.

In front of a sea of yellow, it was the Los Cafeteros who dominated proceedings in the first half, peppering the DRC goal, and registering 14 total shots in that period.

After an Edo Kayembe close shave inside 53 seconds, the matchday hosts got into their groove as soon as the third minute, when Jhon Arias blasted a shot right at Mpasi, with Munoz missing a wide open net by firing the rebound into the side-netting.

Two minutes later, the Crystal Palace right-back thought he had scored the opener, but for his bundled finish from a rebound header to chalked off for a marginal offside.

Still going at 34 years of age, skipper James Rodriguez was the next man to test the Le Havre keeper, firing a long-range shot that Mpasi dived low-left to push wide.

©AFP

A similar display of excellent goalkeeping was witnessed four minutes later, when Johan Mojica had his go from the left, with Bayern winger Luis Diaz inexplicably missing from point-bank range seconds later, when his shot nestled past a sea of DRC legs, and off the heel of Mpasi.

By the time Gustavo Puerta had also warmed the keeper’s gloves with a long-range attempt in the 18th minute, Mpasi had stood in the way of the most shots on target (five) by a team in the World Cup, inside the first 20 minutes.

Modric hits milestone as Croatia eliminate Panama

As often will be the case down the line in this special tournament, the hydration break played right into the hands of the Congolese, offering them slight breathing space, as Colombia’s frenetic pace and rhythm was broken.

At the end of the half, it was DRC who were more threatening, with Cédric Bakambu narrowly missing a cross from Arthur Masuaku, to rattle the Colombia cages.

After the break, Colombia were back to type, harrying the Congolese defense not once, and should have broken their resolve when Diaz was left in acres of space on the left, but for his shot to be excellently denied by Mpasi’s dangling right boot. Offered a chance to capitalise on a rebound, Arias dragged his resulting effort wide.

And finally - siuu! Ronaldo marches into history with a brace against Uzbekistan

Nestor Lorenzo, in a bid to inject fresh blood in his side, introduced Jhon Cordoba and Juan Quintero for Rodriguez and Luis Suarez. Quintero, with his first real chance forward, misplaced a pass out-wide for Munoz, with Mpasi again being called into action in the 65th minute, to claw away a dangerous cross from Mojica.

Boasting over 70 per-cent possession, Colombia, however, found the path to goal more challenging, and it would take them till the 75th minute for Munoz to sneak in the opener, sending Estadio Akron into ruptures.

©AFP

Two minutes later, Diaz thought he had struck a quick second for his side, when he streaked clear to dink over Mpasi, but for the offside flag to go up. Much to his chagrin, a similar predicament befell him seconds later, when his beauty of a curled finish was denied again for offside, leaving him punching the ground in frustration.

As the clock ticked, DR Congo upped the pressure on the other end, with substitute Nathanael Mbuku forcing the keeper into a low save in the 91st minute, but that was all she wrote.

Colombia delight in Mexico, and now to the top-of-group shootout with Portugal.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE (ROUND 2)

Group K

Tuesday 23.06

Portugal - Uzbekistan 5-0 (3-0)

/Ronaldo 6,39, Mendes 17, Nematov 60 og, Leao 87/

Wednesday 24.06.

Colombia - DR Congo 1-0 (0-0)

/Munoz 76/