DR Congo vs Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan stunned the Congolese inside 10 minutes. Eldor Shomurodov collected a pass from Akmal Mozgovoy and flipped the ball off his left foot into the far corner of the net — a finish of genuine quality that gave the World Cup debutants a lead they would hold for nearly an hour.

DR Congo thought they had levelled in the 17th minute when Nathanaël Mbuku bundled the ball home, but referee Felix Zwayer consulted VAR and overturned the goal, ruling that Mbuku had struck an Uzbekistan defender in the face during the build-up.

The half-time statistics told a frustrating story for Sébastien Desabre's side: 56% possession, four attempts, none on target. Uzbekistan's compact defence and disciplined pressing had smothered Les Léopards.

Desabre sent his team out with renewed urgency after the break. The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Abdukodir Khusanov — Manchester City's teenage defender, already on a yellow card — tripped a Congolese attacker in the box. Wissa stepped up and, despite stumbling in his run-up, drilled the penalty low and hard past Utkir Yusupov to level the scores.

Fiston Mayele put DR Congo ahead for the first time in the 78th minute, firing home from close range after Uzbekistan failed to clear a corner. Wissa then sealed the result in the 90th minute, finishing off a counter-attack initiated by Meshack Elia to make it 3-1.

Khusanov's 43rd-minute yellow card was the seed of Uzbekistan's undoing. The centre-back, already walking a disciplinary tightrope, could not afford any further risk — yet his clumsy challenge in the box handed DR Congo a penalty and a route back into the match. Without that foul, Uzbekistan may well have defended their way to a first-ever World Cup point.

• Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) — Two goals, including a nerveless penalty and a clinical counter-attacking finish. The Newcastle United forward was the difference-maker when his team needed him most. Player of the Match.
• Fiston Mayele (DR Congo) — The Pyramids striker scored what proved to be the winner, a poacher's finish from a scramble, and occupied Uzbekistan's centre-backs for the full 90 minutes.
• Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan) — Opened the scoring with a superb left-footed finish and was Uzbekistan's only consistent threat in the final third. His goal will be remembered as Uzbekistan's first in a men's World Cup.

DR Congo's 19 shots to Uzbekistan's four, and an xG disparity of 2.35 to 0.27, reflect a match that was far more one-sided than the 1-0 scoreline at half-time suggested. The Leopards generated chance after chance but lacked precision in the final third until the final 22 minutes. Remarkably, only four of DR Congo's 19 attempts were on target — a 21% shot accuracy that explains why the match stayed tight for so long. Uzbekistan, by contrast, managed just one shot on target from their four attempts: Shomurodov's goal. The 0.27 xG confirms they created almost nothing else of note.

Five yellow cards (three for DR Congo, two for Uzbekistan) highlighted a fractious contest, with the referee issuing bookings for tactical fouls and reckless challenges.

DR Congo finish Group K in third place on four points (one win, one draw against Portugal, one loss to Colombia) and advance to the round of 32 — the nation's first-ever appearance in the knockout phase of a World Cup. They will stay in Atlanta to face England on Wednesday, 1 July.

Uzbekistan's World Cup debut ends with three defeats from three group matches. Despite the disappointment, they depart with a first goal (Shomurodov) and periods of credible defensive organisation, particularly in the first half against DR Congo. Coach Fabio Cannavaro's side showed flashes of promise but ultimately lacked the firepower and squad depth to compete at this level.

DR Congo survived a scare, showed resilience, and ultimately overwhelmed a limited Uzbekistan side with superior fitness and attacking volume. Wissa's brace masks what was an unconvincing display for 67 minutes — but in tournament football, only the result matters. Les Léopards will need sharper execution against England.