Colombia beats Cannavaro's Uzbekistan 3-1 in World Cup debut at the Azteca

Colombia takes early control

Colombia, missing the 2022 edition, returned with ambition at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. An 80,000 crowd, overwhelmingly Colombian, watched the Cafeteros dominate the first half. Daniel Munoz broke the deadlock at the 40th minute. Luis Diaz, the Bayern Munich attacker, intercepted the ball deep in his own half, advanced, and threaded a precise pass behind the Uzbek defence. Munoz met it with a first-time right-footed volley to beat goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov.

Uzbekistan strikes back

Fabio Cannavaro sent on fresh legs at the interval and Uzbekistan pushed higher. Just after the hour, Dostonbek Khamdamov crossed for Eldor Shomurodov, whose volley was parried poorly by Colombian keeper Camilo Vargas. Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed the rebound into an empty net for the country's first World Cup goal. The equaliser, reported at the 59th, 60th, or 61st minute in different match reports, brought the Asian side level at 1-1.

“I told them I am very proud of the match they played, I really liked what I saw.”

Diaz and Campaz restore order

The parity lasted only a few minutes. Around the 64th or 65th minute, Gustavo Puerta won a midfield duel and released Diaz, who guided a low angled shot past Yusupov for 2-1. Colombia managed the rest of regulation, and in the ninth minute of added time, substitute Jaminton Campaz rose to head in a cross from Cucho Hernandez for the final 3-1 margin. Uzbekistan's Karimov rattled the crossbar moments before the final whistle.

Group K picture after day one

Colombia's win, combined with Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston, puts the South Americans alone on top with three points. Portugal and Congo share second with one point each, while Uzbekistan sits at zero. Cannavaro's men must now take points from their remaining matches to keep hope alive.

Colombia3

Portugal1

DR Congo1

Uzbekistan0

Colombia

3 points

Portugal

1 points

DR Congo

1 points

Uzbekistan

0 points

Data from the article text

Elsewhere on the night

In a Group L fixture in Toronto, Ghana beat Panama 1-0 on a stoppage-time goal by Caleb Yirenkyi, set up by Brandon Thomas-Asante. The result rounds out the first round of group-stage matches.