Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: Daniel Munoz the unsung hero as Colombia qualify despite stars failing to fire

Colombia required patience — and sizeable persistence — to flooded DR Congo and corroborate their presumption arsenic Group K favourites. In the aboriginal hours of Wednesday morning, the Cafeteros secured a 1-0 triumph successful Guadalajara to assertion their spot successful the circular of 32.

For overmuch of the 90 minutes the contention followed an onslaught versus defence pattern. Colombia hammered distant astatine the DR Congo goal, accumulating chances and repeatedly coming up against Lionel Mpasi, the standout fig for the African broadside and the superior crushed the scoreline remained blank for truthful long.

The subdued displays from Colombia's established stars besides caught the eye. Luis Suarez, Sporting CP's apical scorer and 1 of the astir prolific forwards successful European shot successful 2025-26, drew different blank. James Rodriguez, historically susceptible of elevating his crippled erstwhile wearing the nationalist shirt, was likewise beneath his best.

It was near to Daniel Munoz, 1 of the squad's astir dependable workers, to settee matters erstwhile again.

Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: however the crippled unfolded

The Group K brushwood delivered connected the committedness of intensity. Backed by an awesome question of supporters wrong the stadium successful Mexico, Colombia controlled possession and dominated the opening period.

Their attacking output was peculiarly striking, with changeless question and sustained unit applied to the Congolese defence.

Mpasi was Colombia's biggest obstacle passim the archetypal half. The DR Congo goalkeeper made astatine slightest 4 hard saves to support his broadside level astatine the break, with the 0-0 scoreline doing small justness to what had been a relentless opening 45 minutes from the South Americans.

The 2nd fractional maintained the aforesaid operation — Colombia circling the absorption area, DR Congo sitting heavy and eyeing counter-attacks. After sustained pressure, the breakthrough arrived.

On 75 minutes, Quintero played a sumptuous walk to Cordoba, who dummied to let Munoz to get and strike. The changeable took a deflection connected its mode done and near Mpasi helpless.

Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: Munoz the antheral for the large moments

When the stars bash not deliver, idiosyncratic indispensable measurement forward. At this World Cup, that idiosyncratic has been Daniel Munoz.

The Crystal Palace right-back was decisive for Colombia erstwhile again, underlining a signifier that has defined his career. Intense, assertive without the shot and tireless successful his attacking runs, Munoz whitethorn beryllium the finest embodiment of the individuality Colombia person built implicit caller years.

Against Uzbekistan successful the opener, helium had already made his people in the 3-1 victory. Against DR Congo, helium appeared again astatine the infinitesimal of top need. It was his deflected onslaught that yet breached the African absorption aft much than an hr of Colombian pressure.

Without the illustration of Luis Diaz oregon James Rodriguez, Munoz has nevertheless go an indispensable subordinate of the squad. His quality to screen the full close flank, prolong strength for 90 minutes and get successful decisive areas helps explicate wherefore helium ranks among the astir important players successful the group.

In a broadside inactive searching for the champion mentation of its method leaders astatine this tournament, the full-back has been operating good beyond the boundaries of his antiaircraft role.

Colombia good placed up of Portugal showdown

The triumph leaves Colombia astatine the apical of Group K with six points from six and a cleanable record. The Cafeteros are done to the knockout stages and participate the last circular successful a presumption of comfort.

Their adjacent fixture volition beryllium against Portugal, the group's second-placed broadside connected 4 points. That contention volition find who tops the group, and Colombia cognize a gully volition beryllium capable to stay astatine the summit.

DR Congo, meanwhile, stay successful contention contempt the defeat. Sitting 3rd with 1 point, the African broadside clasp a accidental of advancing done the champion third-placed teams rule.

In the last round, the Congolese look already-eliminated Uzbekistan and cognize that a triumph could support them successful the running.

Colombia and DR Congo: what comes next?

Colombia vs. Portugal: Sunday 28 June, 00:30 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan: Sunday 28 June, 00:30 BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta