Colombia Beats Debutant Uzbekistan 3-1 Behind Diaz's Goal and Assist

Colombia kicked off their 2026 World Cup group stage campaign with a victory, defeating World Cup debutants Uzbekistan, thanks to a stellar performance by Luis Diaz, who recorded multiple attacking points.

Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in their Group K opening match of the tournament held at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico on June 18 (KST).

With three points, Colombia (1 win) took the lead in Group K, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1 draw, 1 point), who drew 1-1 with Portugal on the same day, ranked second ahead of Portugal on fair play points.

Portugal was placed third, while Uzbekistan (1 loss) fell to the bottom of the group.

Referee Anthony Taylor, who blew the whistle for the match, is a familiar face to South Korean football fans.

Taylor, who refereed the second group stage match between South Korea and Ghana during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, ended the game without allowing South Korea to take a corner kick earned in second-half stoppage time, and subsequently showed a red card to South Korea's head coach Paulo Bento, who was protesting the decision.

Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, deployed a tactical approach focused on counterattacks after setting up a solid defensive wall with what was effectively a five-back formation.

Uzbekistan is managed by Fabio Cannavaro, who experienced the World Cup four times during his playing days as a center-back for the Italian national team, famous for its "catenaccio" (bolt defense).

In response, Colombia struggled to create attacking opportunities early in the first half.

In the 17th minute, Jhon Arias's right-footed shot from near the right side of the penalty arc went slightly wide of the right post.

Arias's shot was the first attempt of the match for either team.

Uzbekistan, which had been defending deep, looked for a shooting opportunity in the 29th minute during a counterattack as Eldor Shomurodov quickly penetrated to the front of the penalty area, but he was stopped by Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi, who cleared the ball a step faster.

Colombia, intensifying their attack, came close in the 31st minute when Luis Diaz penetrated the left side of the penalty area and unleashed a left-footed shot, only for it to strike the right post.

Colombia finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, with Daniel Munoz scoring the opening goal.

Diaz delivered a pass from the midfield toward the front of the goal, and Munoz, making a run behind the last line of Uzbekistan's defense, threw himself to connect with a right-footed shot, breaching Uzbekistan's stubborn defense.

Trailing 1-0 after the first half, Uzbekistan finally celebrated their first-ever World Cup goal in the 15th minute of the second half.

Dostonbek Khamdamov penetrated the left side of the penalty area and delivered a cross. Shomurodov took a right-footed shot from the right side of the goal area, which hit the left post and bounced into the air, allowing Abbosbek Fayzullaev to head it into the empty net.

The diminutive 167-centimeter winger Fayzullaev etched his name in history by scoring Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup goal.

However, Uzbekistan's joy over the equalizer was short-lived.

Colombia reclaimed the lead just five minutes later.

In the 20th minute of the second half, Colombia won possession through pressing during an Uzbekistan throw-in. Diaz cut into the left side of the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot.

The ball off Diaz's foot brushed past the fingertips of the Uzbek goalkeeper and went straight into the net.

Colombia sealed the two-goal victory in stoppage time with a header from Jaminton Campaz after weathering Uzbekistan's late offensive onslaught.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.