32 Years Ago They Were Called K.O.lumbia, Today They've Secured Advancement: "The Lads Played a Fantastic Game"

At the current World Cup in North America, the national football team is writing a completely different story. After two matches, they boast a perfect six points and have already secured their spot in the Round of 16. Following a 3-1 triumph over Uzbekistan, they also defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 on Tuesday evening.

In Guadalajara, Colombian fans created an almost home-like atmosphere. The stands transformed into a sea of yellow, with supporters of the African team significantly outnumbered. The South Americans dictated the pace of play from the outset, peppering goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi with shots from all angles.

Daniel Muñoz first squandered a golden opportunity, only to celebrate a goal shortly after, which was disallowed for offside. James Rodríguez then tested Mpasi with a powerful shot, and the Congo goalkeeper had to pull off several more excellent saves against Johan Mojica and Luis Díaz.

Colombia's pressure continued after the break. Mpasi shone again in the 50th minute, making a fantastic foot save to deny another Díaz chance. While the Africans occasionally launched dangerous counter-attacks, they spent most of the match defending deep in their own penalty area.

The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute. Muñoz redeemed himself after his first-half miss, as his deflected shot found its way past a helpless Mpasi. The Congolese didn't give up, and in stoppage time, Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas had to make a crucial save from Nathanael Mbuku's fierce strike.

Colombian coach Néstor Lorenzo couldn't hide his satisfaction after the match, although he considered the result too narrow. "The lads played a fantastic game; I thank them for their effort. They left everything on the pitch and stuck to the plan. We should have won by a larger margin, but that's football. We deserved the win," said the 60-year-old Argentinian at the helm of Colombia.

He particularly praised the performance of the midfield. "Against teams like this, you have to find spaces between the lines. We needed to keep possession safely, and Arias, Lerma, Puerta, the entire midfield, even James, played a fantastic game," the Colombian coach stated.

According to him, the defense also deserved commendation. "They are the ones most at risk when the team plays so high and pushes the full-backs forward. Lerma and both center-backs did an exceptional job," Lorenzo added.

Match hero Daniel Muñoz emphasized the team's collective effort. "I always contribute with my heart. Thank God I was lucky enough to score in both matches and help the team. We are Colombia, and I always try to give my best to the squad," the defender stated.

He also highlighted the difficulty of the match against the African opponent. "We knew they would play with five defenders. We had to move the ball from one side to the other, control the tempo, and exploit the open spaces," he explained.

Colombia will face Portugal in their final group stage match. Portugal, after an initial 1-1 draw with DR Congo, crushed Uzbekistan 5-0. This upcoming duel will decide the winner of Group K. "Step by step. We had two finals ahead of us, and we managed them. Portugal is a tough opponent, and we are all looking forward to that game," Muñoz said. "It's a beautiful game, an amazing game, but it's still just another game. We have to be smart, know what kind of match awaits us, and compete properly."

For Colombia, reaching the knockout stage is already a significant achievement. After failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they are among the first teams to secure a spot in the top 32 at the 2026 World Cup.