Munoz bailed out his side in Guadalajara with a 1-0 that puts them through with a game to go. It was a hard-fought result on Tuesday, not least because of an inspired performance from Mpasi who made life difficult for the visitors until the 76th minute.
Why this win matters
With six points on the board from two, Colombia are in regardless of what happens elsewhere. They’ll be up against Portugal for the top of the group after the Portuguese put five past Uzbekistan earlier on.
It was a tough pill to swallow for DR Congo after a well-organised display. They’re left with a point and a job to do: beat Uzbekistan in their last outing if they want to have any say in the knockout rounds.
Mpasi’s heroics define the contest
You can make a case for this being a one-man show by the DR Congo keeper. He made eight of them, standing in the way of James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Jhon Arias time and again while Colombia had the ball and the space but not the composure to put it away.
He put out an early barrage, including a shot from James in the 11th and a deft foot-work stop on Diaz in the 18th. Then, after the break, he parried another from Diaz in the 51st before Arias put the rebound over, which didn’t do much for Colombian nerves.
The moment that broke DR Congo’s resistance
Some exhalation when Juan Quintero found Munoz with a well-timed pass. Munoz made a run from deep and put one low at the near post in the 76th; a little nudge on it was enough to get it by Mpasi. There was a chance for Diaz later on but it was called for offside as they saw it out.
Colombia’s evolving World Cup storyline
Nestor Lorenzo’s men were in good spirits coming off the 3-1 over Uzbekistan and set the tone. They had 15 shots by the half, nine of the 10 outfielders having had a go, but some of it was wasted and the scoreline stayed tight.
The numbers are telling. This is the third straight World Cup where Colombia have made it out of the group, following 2014 and 2018. James has now made 10 appearances, level with the likes of Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama. And for Munoz, it makes him only the second defender in the country to have more than one goal in a single tournament, in the company of Yerry Mina.
DR Congo had their moments. Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa made inroads, Wissa in particular in the 73rd before he was put off. In the stands you could spot the team’s well-known living statue, Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who was able to come along after being in quarantine for the first match.
Group K picture: what comes next
Things get interesting. A head-to-head for the number one between Colombia and Portugal is on the cards, and DR Congo have to find a way past Uzbekistan. Here’s how it stands:
– Colombia (6 pts) – first place up for grabs vs Portugal
– Portugal in with a 5-0 over Uzbekistan
– DR Congo (1 pt) – have to have a win over Uzbekistan
They had the upper hand here but had to be patient about it. Up against Portugal, they won’t be given as many openings and will have to be more clinical to make things stick in the Round of 32.
