Fifa World Cup: Munoz strikes late to break Congo hearts, send Colombia into last 32

Ghana may have thwarted Portugal last week, but despite a resilient display and some brilliant goalkeeping, the Africans competing in their first World Cup since 1974 could not resist Colombia.
Nobody wants an appointment with the Democratic Republic of Congo right now, and it needed Daniel Munoz, galloping forward from right-back after 76 increasingly frustrating minutes and finally beating Lionel Mpasi, for Colombia to escape unharmed from this stern examination of their patience and creativity.
Following their 1-0 win in Guadalajara, Nestor Lorenzo’s team have secured a place in the last 32, and the only uncertainty is whether they progress as Group K winners or runners-up.
It appeared that the first-minute shot sent screaming past a post by Edo Kayembe, the Congolese midfielder, had tweaked Colombia’s tail when the South Americans spent the next 30 minutes weaving clever, precise patterns that created a string of presentable openings.
Still, while the tournament’s best strikers are seemingly plundering goals at will, this is turning into a World Cup for ageing keepers.

After the 40-year-old Vozinha gained global fame for his significant role in Cabo Verde drawing 0-0 with Spain, and Eloy Room, 37, equalled the World Cup record of 15 saves in a match as Curacao held Ecuador to a stalemate, Mpasi, a sprightly 31 in comparison, repelled a host of Colombia attempts. He did not deserve to finish on the losing side.
Still, the DR Congo No 1 got lucky after four minutes, when he shovelled a Jhon Arias strike into the path of Munoz. The scorer of a fabulous goal in Colombia’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan last week, Munoz got his angles wrong and crashed the ball into the side netting.
It was Munoz threatening again three minutes later. Indeed, the right-back turned home on the rebound after Mpasi palmed out his initial headed effort following a fine through ball from fellow fullback Johan Mohija. An offside flag punctured his glee, replays showing Munoz had eased in front of last-man Arthur Masuaku before Mohija stuck his pass.
Following an express start, it was baffling that after only 10 minutes the Colombia fans, who accounted for more than 95 per cent of a 45,358 crowd, launched into their first Mexican wave, normally the result of bored spectators reduced to making their own fun.
Those same supporters, almost exclusively dressed in yellow jerseys, instinctively reached for their heads after Mpasi flew left to turn a James Rodriguez attempt around the post.
Rodriguez last scored in a World Cup finals match 12 years ago and he was largely on the periphery here, with his main contribution before going off after 58 minutes the free-kicks he cheaply bought from Italian referee Maurizio Mariani.
DR Congo could not catch their breath amid furious Colombian pressing.
Nonetheless, only 16 minutes had gone when head coach Lorenzo’s team might have had cause to wonder if this would be one of those days. Located by a lovely flighted pass from Arias, Luis Diaz saw his close-range drive clatter Mpasi on the shins and deflect behind.
Either side of that stop, Mpasi was equal to attempts from Mojica and Gustavo Puerta.
More hydration break nonsense would soon follow. Masuaku required treatment lasting more than 60 seconds in the 21st minute. Mariani resumed play, then stopped it again around two minutes later. A similar episode unfolded during England’s earlier goalless draw with Ghana. Strict protocol has trumped common sense.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku were both wasteful on rare DR Congo surges, before Cedric Bakambu, needing one goal to equal Dieumerci Mbokani as his country’s record scorer, narrowly failed to connect with a lifted Masuaku delivery.
Colombia’s frustration grew as Diaz and Luis Suarez both hammered shots into defenders.
Five minutes after the restart, Mpasi again employed a leg to deny Bayern Munich attacker Diaz at close quarters, the suddenly flustered Arias aiming the rebound wide.
To huge acclaim from the stands, Lorenzo soon sent on Jhon Cordoba and the fiercely popular veteran midfielder Juanfer Quintero, Rodriguez and Suarez making way.
With Congo beginning to look comfortable, and Mpasi enjoying a quiet spell, the two substitutes combined to feed Munoz’s forward run. Quintero punched a pass to angular striker Cordoba, who awkwardly prevented Axel Tuanzebe from stopping the ball rolling into the path of the onrushing Munoz.
The defender’s low left-footed strike beat Mpasi at his near post, Munoz already the 25th player in these finals to score more than one goal.
Luis Diaz twice had ‘goals’ scrubbed off for offside, then Camilo Vargas, the Colombia keeper, was finally worked when substitute Nathanael Mbuku’s late 20-yard drive required an athletic save.
Portugal and Colombia will meet on Saturday in a straight shoot-out for first place in Group K, a worthwhile prize given it books a last-32 meeting with a third-placed side.
On the same day, DR Congo, who lost all three matches without scoring in their only previous World Cup appearance 52 years ago, will be in the novel position of being expected to win a finals match when they face Uzbekistan.
Should they succeed, they could yet climb to second and secure a likely meeting with either Croatia or Ghana. Regardless, a win should see them through in third, at least, enough for a meeting with a group winner who would not relish their date with DR Congo.