Colombia edge DR Congo 1-0 to secure knockout berth

Colombia claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo in their second Group K match, booking a spot in the knockout stage. The only goal came in the 76th minute when Daniel Munoz fired a powerful shot from inside the box following a pass from Juan Quintero, with the ball deflecting into the net.

The first half saw Colombia dominate but fail to break through. Munoz had a goal disallowed for offside in the sixth minute. Despite several chances in the opening 20 minutes, DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau made key saves to keep the score level.

In the second half, Colombia continued their pressure and finally found the breakthrough. During stoppage time, DR Congo had opportunities to equalize, but Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made crucial saves to preserve the lead.

In Group K, Colombia leads with six points from two matches, followed by Portugal with four points, DR Congo with one, and Uzbekistan with none. Portugal earlier defeated Uzbekistan 5-0.

This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, hosted across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage. The group stage concludes on June 27, with the round of 32 starting June 28. The semifinals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, the third-place match on July 18, and the final on July 19. Argentina won the previous World Cup in Qatar in 2022.