Colombia qualifies for World Cup knockout round after Munoz's late winner against DR Congo

Heroics from an unlikely source

Colombia's progression to the knockout stage was delivered by a right-back with a story as improbable as his goalscoring touch. Daniel Munoz, who was denied a US visa a decade ago when he planned to leave football and migrate to find work, scored for the second consecutive World Cup match to give the South Americans a 1-0 victory over DR Congo. The Crystal Palace defender had a goal disallowed for offside in the eighth minute and struck the post earlier, but his 76th-minute drive, deflected off Kapuadi, finally beat the inspired goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

“Just because I scored the goal doesn't mean I'm the star. We're all the stars. We all earned these three points. This is a family, and here, the star is Colombia.”

Munoz, now with five goals in 46 international appearances, was named Player of the Match. He also spoke of the team's hunger, saying they had to be like starved lions ready to devour their prey.

Mpasi's wall

For over an hour, the Congolese goalkeeper frustrated a Colombia side that dominated possession and fired shots from every angle. Mpasi saved early efforts from Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, blocked a Luis Diaz close-range attempt, and kept out Munoz's tap-in rebound. Even after the interval, he stopped Diaz's left-footed shot with a futsal-style save. The performance kept the match goalless until Quintero's intervention.

Lorenzo's changes

Head coach Nestor Lorenzo praised his team's composure and attacking variety after breaking down a disciplined DR Congo side. With the deadlock persisting, he introduced Juan Fernando Quintero for Rodriguez and Jhon Cordoba for Luis Suarez around the hour mark. The move paid off when Quintero found Cordoba, who shielded the ball and laid it off for Munoz to slot home. Lorenzo said the team grew in performance despite the tight contest.

What it means

Colombia moved to six points from two matches and will face Portugal in Miami on Saturday to determine the group winner. DR Congo, with one point, must beat Uzbekistan to keep alive their hopes of advancing. The evening also belonged to "Lumumba Vea", the Congolese superfan who travels to matches standing motionless in tribute to Patrice Lumumba, and who made it to Guadalajara despite travel restrictions linked to an Ebola outbreak that has caused over 250 deaths in DR Congo since mid-May.