Colombia secured top spot in Group K despite being held to a goalless draw by Portugal, while the Democratic Republic of Congo produced a memorable comeback victory over Uzbekistan to book a historic place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32.
The final round of Group K fixtures delivered tension, near misses and a landmark achievement as both Colombia and DR Congo advanced to the knockout phase.
In Miami, Colombia and Portugal played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in a match that lacked goals but delivered excitement from start to finish.
Knowing a point would be enough to finish first in the group, Colombia approached the contest with discipline and determination against a Portugal side that needed victory to claim top spot.
The South Americans came closest to winning the game late on when Davinson Sanchez thought he had scored the decisive goal. However, celebrations were cut short after the assistant referee flagged for offside and VAR confirmed the decision, with replays showing the defender’s toe had strayed beyond the last line.
Portugal also came close to snatching victory in the closing moments, but Rafael Leao failed to convert his opportunity as both sides settled for a point.
Despite the draw, Colombia advanced as Group K winners and will now face Ghana in the round of 32. Portugal progressed as runners-up and are set for a difficult knockout clash against Croatia.
The result also marked the first time Colombia failed to score in a World Cup match, ending their impressive attacking run at the tournament.
Meanwhile in Atlanta, DR Congo wrote a new chapter in their football history after fighting back to defeat Uzbekistan 3-1 and record their first-ever World Cup victory.
The Congolese side entered the match needing all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive and showed resilience after an early scare.
Uzbekistan thought they had made the perfect start through captain Eldor Shomurodov, but his early effort was ruled out for offside.
DR Congo responded strongly and believed they had equalised through Nathanael Mbuku before VAR intervened again, ruling out the goal for a foul in the build-up.
The breakthrough eventually arrived when Yoane Wissa was brought down inside the area. The forward stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to level the contest.
Substitute Fiston Mayele then completed the turnaround with a composed finish before Wissa struck again to seal an unforgettable victory.
The Newcastle forward’s brace took his tally to three goals at the tournament and ensured DR Congo finished third in Group K to secure qualification.
The historic result sends DR Congo into the knockout stage for the first time, where they will face England in what promises to be one of the most anticipated ties of the round.
For Colombia, the focus now shifts to maintaining their momentum, while DR Congo continue to embrace their role as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Advertisement