Colombia edge Congo DR to move closer to World Cup knockout stage

Colombia took a significant step towards the World Cup knockout stages with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Congo DR in Match Round 2, a contest dominated by South American possession and defensive resilience but settled by a single, clinical moment.

• Colombia will play with Portugal. June 27 at 23:30 (GMT), on Hard Rock Stadium.
• Congo DR will play with Uzbekistan. June 27 at 23:30 (GMT), on Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Colombia

• Camilo Andrés Vargas Gil (7.2)
• Daniel Muñoz Mejía (7.9)
• Davinson Sánchez Mina (7.7)
• Jhon Janer Lucumí Bonilla (7.5)
• Johan Andrés Mojica Palacio (7.3)
• Gustavo Adolfo Puerta Molano (6.9)
• Jefferson Andrés Lerma Solís (7.2)
• Jhon Adolfo Arias Andrade (7.3)
• James David Rodríguez Rubio (7)
• Luis Javier Suárez Charris (6.7)
• Luis Fernando Díaz Marulanda (6.6)

Congo DR

Substitutions:

Colombia

• Luis Javier Suárez Charris (Jhon Andrés Córdoba Copete, 58)
• James David Rodríguez Rubio (Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua, 58)
• Jhon Adolfo Arias Andrade (Richard Ríos Montoya, 77)

Congo DR

• Ngalayel Mukau (Noah Junior Sadiki, 46)
• Cédric Bakambu (Simon Bokoté Banza, 57)
• Fuka-Arthur Masuaku Kawela (Joris Kayembe Ditu, 72)
• Edouard Kayembe Kayembe (Charles Monginda Pickel, 72)
• Samuel Moutoussamy (Nathanaël Mbuku, 82)

Ball possession:

Néstor Lorenzo’s side controlled long spells of the game, enjoying 64% of the ball and firing 20 shots in total, nine of them on target, yet they were forced to rely on a disciplined back line and relentless pressing to protect their narrow lead in the closing stages.

Passes:

Congo DR, limited to 36% possession and just eight attempts – only one of which tested the goalkeeper – stayed in the match through sheer defensive commitment and organisation, but rarely found a way through Colombia’s compact structure.

Defense:

### Colombia in control but made to work

Face-to-face:

From the first whistle, Colombia imposed their passing game and territorial dominance. Davinson Sánchez Mina epitomised their composure at the back, completing 95% of his 66 passes as Colombia built patiently from deep and squeezed Congo DR back into their own half.

Fouls:

Yellow cards:

• Jhon Janer Lucumí Bonilla (Colombia) at 56 minute
• Jefferson Andrés Lerma Solís (Colombia) at 90 minute
• Charles Monginda Pickel (Congo DR) at 90 minute

The last five games (including this match):

• Colombia –
• Congo DR –

Top 5 World Cup scorers:

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2. (0, )
3. (0, )
4. (0, )
5. (0, )

Line-ups:

Next games:

• Colombia will play with Portugal. June 27 at 23:30 (GMT), on Hard Rock Stadium.
• Congo DR will play with Uzbekistan. June 27 at 23:30 (GMT), on Mercedes-Benz Stadium.