Luis Díaz shines with goal and assist in Colombia win over Uzbekistan | OneFootball

After failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Colombia returned to the finals with a different status and greater ambition, beating Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, a result that put them top of Group K. Luis Díaz was the standout player in what was his World Cup debut, scoring one goal and providing one assist. Luis Suárez, Sporting striker, also started up front, but unlike his compatriot, he was largely anonymous and had no involvement in any of the goals.

As for the goals, the first only came shortly before half-time (41'), after a very poor start from both sides, although the Colombians gradually grew into the match and began to threaten the goal. First Arias tried his luck from outside the box, then Luis Díaz hit the post and, at the third attempt, the goal arrived. From a perfect cross by the former FC Porto player, Daniel Muñoz appeared alone in the box, almost like a centre-forward, and finished with great class — and some acrobatics — to make it 1-0. It is, in all likelihood, one of the contenders for best goal of the 2026 World Cup.

Before that, Khusanov, Uzbekistan’s main figure, was involved in a bizarre incident when he collided with Luis Díaz and… a camera operator. The Manchester City centre-back was shown a yellow card for the reckless challenge, and the camera operator had to be treated by the medical team by the pitch for several minutes, but was eventually able to continue working.

At half-time, Fabio Cannavaro, head coach of Uzbekistan’s debutant national team and a 2006 world champion with Italy — as well as a Ballon d'Or winner — made two changes, and his side returned to the pitch with a different attitude, more attacking, possibly also in response to the goal they had conceded. The fact is that they did manage to equalise through Abbosbek Fayzullayev, who went down in the country’s history as the scorer of its first-ever World Cup goal. In a quick attack by the Asians, Shomurodov hit it first time, forcing an incomplete save from Vargas, and the ball fell to his compatriot, who, with the goal gaping, only had to nod it in.

The problem for Uzbekistan was that Colombia responded immediately, in less than five minutes, through the usual suspect: Luis Díaz. After losing the ball in a dangerous area, Puerta picked out the Bayern winger, who made no mistake, albeit with help from the goalkeeper… Yusupov handled it very poorly and let the ball slip through his hands.

Until the final whistle, Colombia still tried to put the game to bed with a third goal, but the clear priority in the closing minutes was not to concede. At that stage, and with Luis Suárez already off the pitch but Richard Ríos, Benfica’s midfielder, brought on from the bench (80'), Uzbekistan threw everything forward and ended up conceding once more. After a Colombian clearance, Cucho Hernández won the ball up front, was fouled, got back up, and still managed to cross for Campaz to head home, despite standing at 1.64 metres. That sealed both the win and top spot in the group, while the Uzbeks dropped to last place after Portugal and DR Congo drew 1-1.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.