Daniel Munoz’s second-half strike was enough to see a dominant Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 as the South Americans secured their place in the World Cup last 32.
Colombia, who had 20 efforts on goal, were made to wait until 14 minutes from time though to make the breakthrough at the Estadio Guadalajara after an inspired performance by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
However, there was nothing Mpasi could do to stop Munoz’s deflected shot as the Crystal Palace player scored his second goal of the tournament to keep his side top of Group K and DR Congo will join them in the knockouts if they beat Uzbekistan on Sunday.
Colombia’s Daniel Munoz goes close against DR Congo
In fact, the Central African side could be England’s opponents in the last 32 if they finish third in their group and Thomas Tuchel’s side top their section.
The key moments from Guadalajara…
- 6: NO GOAL! Munoz bundles the ball over the line after his initial header was only parried up into the air, before he nods in the rebound, but the flag was up for offside against the Crystal Palace wing back
- 50: SAVE! Mpasi makes himself big to deny Diaz from close range, before Arias smashes the rebound wide of the gaping goal
- 76: GOAL! After good hold-up play on the edge of the box by Cordoba, aMunoz’s shot takes a big deflection that wrong foots Mpasi
- 81: NO GOAL! Diaz comes inside and thunders a shot into the far corner, but the offside flag goes up and that was the right call
Analysis: Inspired Mpasi so nearly DR Congo’s hero
If England do end up taking on DR Congo in the round of 32, then they will need their shooting boots on if they want to get the better of Lionel Mpasi, who was in inspired form between the posts for most of the game in Guadalajara.
The Le Harve goalkeeper was a busy man right from the kick-off, making a string of impressive stops to frustrate Colombia, including five in the opening 20 minutes of the game, the most saves in that time frame in a World Cup game since Jamaica’s Warren Barrett against Argentina at France 98.
In fact, you wonder if Colombia would have ever got the better of the 31-year-old France-born shot-stopper had it not been for a crucial and cruel deflection that diverted Daniel Munoz’s shot inside his near post with just 14 minutes to go.
