NEW DELHI: Daniel Muñoz scored the decisive goal as Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 on Tuesday to become one of the first teams to secure a place in FIFA World Cup knockout phase.After an even game in Guadalajara, the defender found a breakthrough in the 76th minute. Muñoz’s left-footed effort from inside the box deflected off a defender before finding the net, leaving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi with no chance.It was Muñoz’s second goal of the tournament and enough to give Colombia a second consecutive Group K win.For most of the game, Mpasi kept DR Congo in the contest with an outstanding performance. The goalkeeper made five tough saves in the first 20 minutes as Colombia dominated possession and created several chances.DR Congo almost equalized dramatically in stoppage time. Nathanael Mbuku tested Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas with a powerful shot from distance, but Vargas made an excellent save. Moments later, he deflected Chancel Mbemba’s header from the ensuing corner to preserve Colombia’s lead.Colombia thought they had sealed the game late on through Luis Díaz, but the Liverpool striker saw two goals ruled out in the space of two minutes. One was ruled out for a foul and the other for offside.The African side impressed in their first game, drawing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-1, but they could not repeat that result against a clinical Colombia side.With six points from two games, Colombia now sits first in Group K and has secured a place in the round of 16. Portugal are second after a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, while DR Congo remain on one point.A draw against Portugal in the final group game will be enough for Colombia to finish as group winners.Famous DR Congo fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, popularly known as “Lumumba Vea”, also returned to the match. The fan, who became a viral sensation during the Africa Cup of Nations for standing like a statue during matches, attended the match after missing the team’s opening game due to Ebola-related quarantine rules.Colombia, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, made an impressive return to the tournament with back-to-back victories. Veteran playmaker James Rodríguez also reached the milestone, joining Colombian greats Freddy Rincón and Carlos Valderrama with 10 World Cup appearances.
