▲ The DR Congo team and coaching staff offer a prayer.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's comeback victory over Uzbekistan has officially extinguished South Korea's hopes for a miracle run to the Round of 32.
DR Congo secured a 2-1 comeback win against Uzbekistan in the final Group K match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, held at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, USA, on June 28 (KST).
With this result, DR Congo celebrated their first-ever World Cup victory, 52 years after their debut in the 1974 tournament under the name Zaire.
DR Congo (4 points, 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) finished third in the group, following Colombia (7 points, 2 wins, 1 draw) and Portugal (5 points, 1 win, 2 draws), who played to a scoreless draw on the same day.
Uzbekistan (0 points, 3 losses) concluded the tournament at the bottom of the group without a single point.
Notably, DR Congo secured a ticket to the Round of 32 as one of the top-ranked third-place teams, marking the first time in their history they have advanced to the knockout stage of a World Cup.
As DR Congo confirmed their spot in the Round of 32, South Korea fell to 9th place among the third-place teams, forcing them to abandon the hopes they had held onto until the very last moment.
Uzbekistan, despite being considered the underdog, defied expectations by scoring with their first shot just 10 minutes into the first half.
A pass from midfield into the left side of the penalty area reached Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who set up Eldor Shomurodov. Shomurodov then chipped a brilliant left-footed lob over the goalkeeper, burying the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
It was a one-shot, one-kill moment for Shomurodov.
DR Congo launched a counterattack, and in the 17th minute, Nathanael Mbuku broke through the left flank and fired a stunning left-footed shot into the net.
However, a video assistant referee (VAR) review revealed that Mbuku had struck an Uzbek player in the face with his hand while dribbling before the goal, leading the referee to cancel the score.
Uzbekistan, who finished the first half with a 1-0 lead, missed a chance to extend their advantage five minutes into the second half when Shomurodov's one-touch right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area landed on top of the net.
In the 13th minute of the second half, Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov prevented a goal by punching away a powerful left-footed strike from DR Congo's Mbuku near the right side of the penalty arc.
Unable to convert their scoring opportunities, DR Congo finally leveled the match through a penalty kick.
In the 21st minute of the second half, Yoane Wissa was fouled by Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov while attempting to receive a cross in the center of the penalty area, and the referee immediately signaled for a penalty.
Wissa stepped up to take the kick himself, scoring a crucial equalizer in the 23rd minute to make it 1-1.
With momentum on their side, DR Congo completed the turnaround in the 33rd minute when Fiston Mayele scored the winning goal.
Mayele rushed into the right side of the goal area to meet a pass from the left, redirecting the ball with his right foot into the net.
This goal effectively ended South Korea's chances of advancing to the Round of 32.
In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Wissa, who had scored the equalizer, added a final goal to seal a 3-1 comeback victory.
In the other final Group K match, Colombia and Portugal played to a 0-0 draw.
Colombia, aiming to maintain their lead in Group K, pressured Portugal from the beginning of the first half.
In the 17th minute, a right-footed shot by Jhon Andres Cordoba from the right side of the penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper, and in the 22nd minute, a right-footed effort by Jhon Arias near the right side of the goal area was blocked by a Portuguese defender guarding the front of the net.
Portugal earned a free-kick opportunity near the center of the penalty arc in the 23rd minute, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking the shot, but it went straight to the goalkeeper.
In the 40th minute, a right-footed shot by Bruno Fernandes from the center of the penalty area was denied by a superb save from the goalkeeper.
The two teams finished the first half scoreless and continued their intense battle for a goal in the second half.
During a tense second-half stoppage time, Colombia managed to find the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside, leaving them to settle for a draw.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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