GUADALAJARA — Daniel Muñoz once again emerged as a key figure for Colombia, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday night at Guadalajara Stadium. The result placed Colombia atop Group K with six points and assured their advancement to the knockout stage of the World Cup, with one group match remaining.
Despite early dominance by Colombia, the match grew increasingly challenging as the Congolese team, employing a compact five-man defensive line, limited space and disrupted Colombia’s attacking rhythm. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was instrumental for Congo, producing several crucial saves to keep the match scoreless for much of the contest.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo tested Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas early, with Edo Kayembe firing a left-footed shot from outside the box that went wide. Colombia quickly took control, generating multiple scoring chances including an early attempt by Muñoz that narrowly missed. Muñoz later had a goal disallowed for offside after two header attempts.
Colombian captain James Rodríguez came close with a powerful long-range shot that Mpasi pushed aside, while Luis Díaz also forced the goalkeeper into a corner with a strong strike in the 15th minute. However, the game settled into a rhythm more favorable to the Congolese squad after a dehydration break, with Colombia struggling to maintain the precision in passing needed to break down the defensive setup.
The second half saw Colombia regain momentum, pressing higher and dictating the tempo. Díaz created a clear opening early in the half, but Mpasi made another key save, with the rebound wasted by Jhon Lucumí who shot over the crossbar. Congo continued to rely on counterattacks to threaten the Colombian defense.
In an effort to add fresh attacking impetus, Colombian coach Néstor Lorenzo substituted Juan Fernando Quintero for Rodríguez in the 60th minute. The move paid off as Quintero provided the assist for Muñoz’s match-winning goal in the 76th minute. Muñoz exploited space on the right side of Congo’s defense to deliver a precise left-footed shot into the net, sparking a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Muñoz credited his teammates and faith for the scoring contribution. “Everyone gives their best here,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to score in these two matches and help the team. It’s about each of us giving our all for one another.”
Colombia will conclude the group stage against Portugal in Miami on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will face Uzbekistan at Atlanta Stadium as they seek to remain in contention.