Colombia made a confident start to the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday. Daniel Munoz broke the deadlock late in the first half, and although Abbosbek Fayzullaev briefly leveled after the break, Luis Diaz and substitute Johan Campaz sealed the result for Nestor Lorenzo’s side. The win puts Colombia in position to chase the group’s top spot.
Key Moments
- 40′, Daniel Munoz put Colombia ahead with a normal goal just before halftime, giving Lorenzo’s side the advantage going into the break.
- 60′, Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized for Uzbekistan fifteen minutes into the second half, pulling Fabio Cannavaro’s side level and setting up a tense final half-hour.
- 65′, Luis Diaz restored Colombia’s lead just five minutes after the equalizer, effectively swinging the match back in Colombia’s favor.
- 90′, Johan Campaz, introduced as a substitute, added the third goal in stoppage time to confirm the final margin.
Tactical Breakdown
Colombia controlled this match from the start. Playing a 4-3-3, they finished with 61% possession, completed 445 of 520 passes for an 86% accuracy rate, and generated an xG of 1.61 from 15 total shots. Ten of those efforts came from inside the box, showing a deliberate approach to attacking in dangerous areas. Uzbekistan, set up in a 3-4-2-1 under Fabio Cannavaro, struggled to get a foothold in midfield and were restricted to just two shots on target all game.
The pivotal moment came in the second half. Uzbekistan made two substitutions at halftime and pulled level through Fayzullaev at the hour mark, but their foothold lasted barely five minutes. Luis Diaz answered immediately at 65, and when James Rodriguez was withdrawn at 72 with the game still at 2-1, Colombia’s bench depth proved decisive. Campaz came on and sealed it at 90, rewarding Lorenzo’s decision to manage his starters in the closing stages.
For Uzbekistan, the numbers tell the story of a team that was outclassed in the middle third. Their 76% pass accuracy compared to Colombia’s 86%, and their xG of 1.14 came largely from Fayzullaev’s brief second-half spell. Committing 14 fouls and picking up a yellow card for Khusanov in the 34th minute disrupted their own rhythm as much as it did Colombia’s. Cannavaro’s side will need a significant improvement to stay alive in this group.
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Verdict
Colombia pick up three points from their opening match and will look to build on this performance as the group stage continues. Uzbekistan, who conceded twice in the final 30 minutes after briefly threatening an upset, face a difficult road ahead. Both teams now wait on other results before their next fixtures to understand exactly what they need.