Yoane Wissa emerged as the hero for Congo DR, scoring twice to secure a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan that propelled his team into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history.
This landmark win not only marked Congo DR’s inaugural World Cup triumph but also set up an eagerly anticipated Round of 32 clash against England.
Despite the final outcome, it was Uzbekistan who started the match with the more threatening approach in Atlanta. Within the opening minute, Eldor Shomurodov appeared to have put his side ahead, only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside call. However, the Uzbek captain didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring.
Ten minutes into the game, Shomurodov expertly lobbed the ball from a tight angle, giving the team under coach Fabio Cannavaro a 1-0 lead.
A Dramatic Second Half Turnaround
Congo DR fought back, believing they had equalized when Nathanael Mbuku fired a precise shot into the top corner. Nevertheless, VAR intervened, nullifying the goal due to a foul on Sherzod Nasrullaev during the build-up play.
The contest remained intense, with both teams pushing forward. Early in the second half, Wissa missed a clear chance to level the score, while Shomurodov nearly doubled Uzbekistan’s lead with a powerful strike that struck the crossbar.
The pivotal moment came midway through the second half when Abdukodir Khusanov fouled Wissa inside the penalty area. Wissa, representing Newcastle United, calmly converted the penalty to bring Congo DR back on level terms.
This goal galvanized the Congolese side. Just two minutes later, Meschack Elia capitalized on a deflected shot, completing the turnaround and sealing a historic victory for Congo DR.