Daniel Munoz did what an hour of sustained Colombian pressure could not: find the net. The right back’s 76th-minute finish was the only difference between the sides, giving Colombia a 1-0 win over Congo DR at Estadio Akron on June 24. Nestor Lorenzo’s side dominated possession and generated 20 shots to Congo DR’s eight, yet needed a moment of individual quality from a fullback to break through. For Congo DR, an eight-save performance from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi Nzau ultimately counted for nothing.
Key Moments
- 46′, Congo DR make their first substitution at the break, introducing N. Mukau as Sebastien Desabre looks to shore up the midfield.
- 56′, Jhon Lucumi picks up a yellow card for roughing, adding disciplinary pressure to Colombia as the match remains scoreless past the hour mark.
- 58′, Lorenzo makes a double change, bringing on Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez in an attempt to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Congo DR backline.
- 76′, Daniel Munoz scores the only goal of the match, converting to give Colombia a 1-0 lead and break the deadlock that had held since kickoff.
- 90′, Yellow cards for both C. Pickel (Congo DR, unsportsmanlike conduct) and Jefferson Lerma (Colombia, roughing) cap a feisty closing stretch.
Tactical Breakdown
Colombia controlled this match from start to finish in terms of territory and volume. They held 64% of possession, completed 473 of 540 passes (88% accuracy), and produced 20 total shots compared to Congo DR’s eight. Their xG of 1.03 against Congo DR’s 0.39 tells the story of a team that created the cleaner, more dangerous opportunities, even if the scoreline stayed blank until the 76th minute. Eleven shots came from inside the box, and nine from distance, suggesting Colombia probed every channel consistently rather than relying on one avenue.
The double substitution at 58 minutes, bringing on James Rodriguez and Luis Suarez, appeared to accelerate Colombia’s rhythm in the final third. It was shortly after that change that the game’s decisive moment arrived, with Munoz arriving to finish the job from his fullback position just 18 minutes after those fresh legs entered the pitch. Nestor Lorenzo’s 4-3-3 gave Colombia width and numerical superiority in central areas throughout.
Congo DR’s 5-3-2 was built to frustrate, and for over an hour it worked. Goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau made eight saves, a remarkable individual effort that kept his side in contention well into the second half. But the structure that protected them defensively also limited their own attacking output: their xG of 0.39 and just one shot on target reflected how little they were able to threaten Camilo Vargas. Without the ball (36% possession) and without genuine chances, Congo DR’s game plan eventually ran out of road.
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Verdict
Colombia’s three points keep them alive in World Cup 2026 Group Stage with work still to do. Congo DR remain without a win and face a difficult path to the knockout rounds. With Mexico sitting top of the group on six points from two games, the pressure is now squarely on Colombia to maintain this form in their final group fixture.