Daniel Muñoz settled Colombia national football team vs DR Congo national football team standings with the only goal, a deflected finish that sent Colombia into the World Cup last 32. The right-back’s strike also left Colombia one draw away from topping the group.
Muñoz finds the near post
Muñoz scored with a shot that flicked off Steve Kapuadi and went in at the near post. It was his second goal in as many games, and it was enough to turn a match that DR Congo had kept alive through Lionel Mpasi’s saves.
Colombia had controlled midfield early and created the cleaner chances before the breakthrough. Lionel Mpasi kept them out for long stretches, including efforts from Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Johan Mojica, and Luis Díaz, before the deflection finally beat him.
Mpasi delays Colombia
That balance mattered because DR Congo arrived after drawing its opening game against Portugal in Houston, and it did not fold. Mpasi produced a string of saves, while Luis Díaz also had two finishes ruled out for offside, so Colombia had to keep pressing until the match broke in its favor.
Sébastien Desabre summed up the resistance with a direct verdict on his goalkeeper: "Our goalkeeper was excellent today,". But the late touch off Kapuadi denied DR Congo the point it had fought for, and the result sent Colombia through to the last 32.
Portugal now decides first place
Néstor Lorenzo was blunt about the finish. "The boys played a brilliant game," he said. "We should have scored more." He also pointed to the spacing that opened the decisive move: "With these teams you have to find the spaces between the lines."
Colombia now faces Portugal in Houston with the group still live. A draw is enough to finish first; a defeat would leave Colombia second and send it to meet the runner-up in England’s group in Toronto.
Michel Kuka Mboladinga watched the win from the front of the stand, standing on a stool with his right arm raised. Colombia’s margin was narrow, but the standings shift was clear: one goal secured the last 32, and one more result will decide whether the team stays on top.
