The moment came in the 76th minute. A loose ball in the box, a scramble, and then Daniel Muñoz—a defender by trade—smashed it home. Colombia 1, Congo DR 0. The World Cup Round of 32 awaits.
For 75 minutes, it looked like another frustrating day for the South Americans. Congo DR, ranked 64th in the world, played like they had nothing to lose—because they didn't. They parked the bus, dared Colombia to break them down, and nearly pulled off the upset of the tournament.
Mpasi Stands Tall
Lionel Mpasi, the Congo goalkeeper, was the reason this game stayed scoreless for so long. He made six saves, including a point-blank stop from Rafael Santos Borré in the 34th minute that left Colombian fans with their heads in their hands. Mpasi commanded his box, punched crosses clear, and generally made a nuisance of himself. For a while, it felt like his night.
But Colombia kept pounding. They had 64% possession, fired 18 shots, and earned 11 corners. The dam had to break eventually.
“I just saw the ball coming and hit it as hard as I could. It’s the goal of my life.” — Daniel Muñoz
Colombia's Tactical Gamble
Coach Néstor Lorenzo rolled the dice by starting James Rodríguez, the aging playmaker who's been more injury than magic in recent years. Rodríguez played 82 minutes, spraying passes and drawing fouls, but his legs are gone. He can't beat a man anymore. Still, his vision created two chances that should have been buried. They weren't. And that's a problem.
Colombia's attack relies too heavily on individual brilliance. Against a disciplined defense like Congo's, they looked lost for long stretches. James can't do it alone. Neither can Luis Díaz, who was double-teamed every time he touched the ball.
What Congo Got Right
Credit where it's due: Congo DR had a plan and executed it. They compressed the midfield, forced Colombia wide, and trusted Mpasi to handle the crosses. It worked for three-quarters of the game. But they have no attacking threat. Their lone shot on target came from a free kick that sailed straight at the keeper. You can't win World Cup games playing for penalties.
Still, they exit with their heads high. This was only their second World Cup appearance. They showed they belong.
What's Next for Colombia?
Round of 32. Opponent: likely a European powerhouse—Germany, maybe, or Spain. Colombia have the talent to reach the quarterfinals, but only if they fix their finishing. Borré, Díaz, and Miguel Borja all missed chances that will be punished by better teams.
The defense, led by the excellent Yerry Mina, looks solid. The midfield, with Jefferson Lerma and Mateus Uribe, works hard but lacks creativity. This team is a work in progress.
One thing's for sure: they'll take the win. Ugly wins count the same as pretty ones. And in the knockout rounds, no one asks how you got there.
