06/23/26 11:16:00
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06/23 23:14 CDT Daniel Muoz scores and Colombia edges Congo 1-0 to reach the
knockout stage at the World Cup
Daniel Muoz scores and Colombia edges Congo 1-0 to reach the knockout stage at
the World Cup
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) --- Daniel Muoz helped Colombia break through Congo's
stingy defense and advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup with a 1-0
win on Tuesday night.
Muoz scored in the 76th minute after the Colombians had been held back by a
strong performance from Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made five difficult
saves in the first 20 minutes.
Mpasi had no chance to stop Muoz's left-footed strike from inside the area
after the ball deflected off a defender. It was Muoz's second goal in the
tournament.
Congo twice came close to equalizing in stoppage time, with Colombia goalkeeper
Camilo Vargas making a superb save off a long-range strike by Nathanael Mbuku
and then stopping a header by Chancel Mbemba off the ensuing corner kick.
Colombian star forward Luis Daz had two goals called back in quick succession
late in the second half, one for a foul in the 79th minute and another for
offside in the 80th.
Congo had opened its first World Cup in 52 years with a surprising 1-1 draw
against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
Colombia has six points from two matches in Group K, two ahead of Portugal and
five clear of Congo. Portugal routed Uzbekistan 5-0 behind a pair of goals by
Ronaldo earlier Tuesday in Houston.
Colombia needs a draw against Portugal on Saturday to win the group. That
result would also be enough to send Portugal to the knockout stage.
Colombia, which did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, is ranked 11th in the
world, third best among South American teams behind Brazil and Argentina. Los
Cafeteros opened with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Congo, ranked 47th, had its
World Cup preparations affected because of an Ebola outbreak.
Many Congo fans were prevented from traveling for the tournament because of
restrictions tied to Ebola.
One fan who missed the first game because of quarantine requirements was Michel
Nkuka Mboladinga, who gained fame during the Africa Cup of Nations for posing
as a statue of Congo's assassinated independence hero Patrice Lumumba. He made
it to the game in Guadalajara, maintaining his statue pose throughout the match.
Colombia had never been involved in a scoreless draw in 23 World Cup
appearances.
Playmaker James Rodrguez joined Colombia greats Freddy Rincn and Carlos
Valderrama with 10 World Cup appearances.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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