Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo produced a memorable second-half comeback to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, securing the Leopards’ first place in the knockout stages of the World Cup after a 52-year absence from the tournament.
Sébastien Desabre’s side needed a win to have any realistic chance of progressing from Group K and, after going into the night with just a point, found themselves in deeper trouble when Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan a ten-minute lead.
The transformation that followed will be remembered as one of the defining nights of the tournament.
Shomurodov had already scored 20 seconds into the game, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
The Uzbekistan captain was undeterred, and when Akmal Mozgovoy’s rebound pass split the DRC defence, Shomurodov got past Aaron Wan-Bissaka and produced a superb finish past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi Nzau.
DR Congo’s setback deepened in the 17th minute when Nathanaël Mbuku thought he had drawn his side level, only for VAR to award the goal, replays showing Mbuku’s arm catching Sherzod Nasrullaev in the face in the build-up.
Mbuku was booked shortly before the break, compounding a difficult first half for the Leopards.
Uzbekistan went into the break protecting their lead for the first time in their World Cup history, but the second half told a completely different story.
DRC emerged with a renewed urgency and the match began a decisive moment shortly after the hour mark.
Abdukodir Khusanov brought down Wissa inside the penalty area in the 68th minute, and the Newcastle United striker stepped up to send Abduvokhid Nematov the wrong way, calmly rolling the ball into the bottom corner to equalize and rekindle Congolese hopes across the stadium.
Fiston Mayele, introduced as a substitute for Cédric Bakambu at the break of the second period, has shown the decisive tactical intervention of Desabre.
In the 78th minute, Meschack Elia’s fierce effort was deflected wide and Mayele reacted instantly, flicking the loose ball past Nematov at the near post to put DR Congo ahead for the first time.
Uzbekistan searched desperately for an equalizer and made a number of substitutions, but the Leopards controlled possession, finishing with 58 per cent possession and 487 passing, and repelled every attack with growing confidence.
The stats underlined the one-sided nature of the contest, with DR Congo racking up 19 total shots to Uzbekistan’s four.
Any lingering doubts were extinguished in the stopped time.
