The Colombian yellow tide is having a great party at the 2026 World Cup. A solitary goal by Daniel Muñoz in the 76th minute gave the Colombian team a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo and early classification to the round of 32 as provisional leader of group “K” with 6 points.
The goal by Muñoz, a player from the English Crystal Palace, was a recognition of the greater dominance in the game by the “Cafeteros” against an opponent who tried to take refuge with a line of five strong defenders.
Colombia was the only team on the field in the first 25 minutes, in which they came close to taking the lead with a header from Muñoz himself, a shot from behind from the creative James Rodríguez and a right hit from Luis Díaz, but all three lacked forcefulness.
With arrivals from the wings and great work of attrition, the Colombians prowled the African area and harassed goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who responded with good saves.
The Congolese were better organized after the hydration break, while the South Americans went from more to less. They suffered wear and tear, their attacks lost harmony and no longer created danger.
Colombia came out with advanced lines in search of goals. They came close to taking the lead in the 50th minute with a left-footed shot from Díaz, saved by Mpasi. His shot was in the area and Jhon Arias finished wide.
The Africans gained confidence, ended the Colombian superiority in the middle of the field and at times approached the area defended by goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
When Congo looked its best, Colombia finally scored the goal. Muñoz appeared on the right wing, grabbed a deflected ball and put it into the goal with his left foot, making it 1-0.
Congo went for the tie, created danger and in the 91st minute came close to tying the match, but Vargas kept a shot from Nathanael Mbuku.
With the result, Colombia placed first in group “K” with 6 points, followed by Portugal with 4, the DR Congo with 1 and Uzbekistan without adding.
superior coffee
Colombia’s coach, Néstor Lorenzo, praised his team’s performance in the 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a result that anticipated qualification to the round of 32 phase of the World Cup as provisional leader of Group “K” with 6 points.
“The boys played a great game, they killed themselves on the field and followed the plan,” said the Argentine coach, for whom the only objection to the game in Guadalajara lies in the fact that the “coffee growers” did not make much of a difference.
“The games are like that,” he added after praising the performance of the Leopards. “They made it a little difficult for us with the centers, we knew we had to move a lot to control them,” explained the gaucho coach.
Next Saturday, June 27, on the last day of the group, Colombia will face the dangerous Portugal in Miami and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will face Uzbekistan in Atlanta. Both duels go simultaneously at 7:30 pm ET.
This is how they aligned
– Colombia (1): Camilo Vargas; Daniel Muñoz, Jhon Lucumí, Gustavo Puerta, Johan Mojica, Davinson Sánchez; Jhon Arias (Richard Ríos m.77), Jefferson Lerma, James Rodríguez (Juan Quintero m.58); Luis Díaz, Luis Javier Suárez (Jhon Córdoba m.58).
– Selector: Nestor Lorenzo.
– DR Congo (1): Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Steve Kapuadi, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku (Joris Kayembe m.71); Ngalayel Mukau (Noah Sadiki m.46), Samuel Moutoussamy (Nathanael Mbuko m.82), Edo Kayembe (Charles Pickel m.71); Cedric Bakambu (Simon Banza m.57), Yoane Wissa.
– Selector: Sébastien Desabre.
– Referee: Maurizio Mariani, from Italy. He admonished Lucumí; Lerma and Pickel.
– Goal: 1-0, m.76: Daniel Muñoz.
– Incidents: Group “K” match of the 2026 World Cup, held at the Guadalajara Stadium, western Mexico, in front of more than 45,000 fans.
