DR Congo advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time by rallying to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on Saturday night.
The Leopards playing in football’s biggest tournament for only the second time in their history after a 52-year absence, fought back to victory to set a tie with England in the next stage.
Uzbekistan thought they had taken the lead straight from kick-off, Shomurodov finding the net in the opening minute only for the flag to go up instantly for offside.
The warning went unheeded. Shomurodov would make no mistake in the 10th minute however, taking full advantage of a DR Congo mess at the back — lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Mpasi, who was caught in no man’s land. It was some finish from the Uzbekistan captain.
DR Congo pushed for a leveller before the break and felt aggrieved when Nathanael Mbuku’s strike was contentiously disallowed following a VAR check that concluded he had fouled Nasrullaev in the build-up. Congo also appealed for a penalty when Cipenga went down under Alidzhanov’s push in the area — the referee waved play on. The Leopards went in at half-time frustrated, behind, and in desperate need of inspiration.
Coach Sébastien Desabre made bold changes at the break and they transformed the contest entirely. Wissa drew DR Congo level from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, sending goalkeeper Nematov the wrong way after Khusanov’s foul.
Ten minutes later a pair of substitutes combined to devastating effect — Meschack Elia’s shot was deflected into the path of Fiston Mayele, who applied just enough of a touch to dink the loose ball over Nematov and into the net. Wissa then sealed it in stoppage time, checking back onto his right foot and firing a low effort into the corner of the net from 20 yards out — his third goal of the tournament.
England will be DR Congo’s round of 32 opponents in Atlanta on July 1.
