Luis Díaz shines with goal and assist in Colombia's 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 of the match, marking his World Cup debut with a goal and an assist. Up front, Sporting striker Luis Suárez also started, but unlike his compatriot, he was largely anonymous and was not involved 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 game 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. Following a perfect cross from the former FC Porto player, Daniel Muñoz appeared alone in the box, like a centre-forward, and finished with great class – and some acrobatics – to make it 1-0. It is, very likely, 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 operator had to be treated by the medical team by the pitch for a few minutes, but was ultimately able to keep working.

At half-time, Fabio Cannavaro, head coach of Uzbekistan’s debutant national team and world champion with Italy in 2006 – as well as a Ballon d’Or winner – made two changes, and his team returned to the pitch with a different, more attacking approach, possibly also in response to the goal they had conceded. In the end, they did find the equaliser through Abbosbek Fayzullayev, who entered the country’s history as the scorer of its first-ever World Cup goal. In a quick attack by the Asians, Shomurodov struck first time, Vargas could only parry it, and the ball fell to his teammate, who, with the goal wide open, 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 found 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 in the closing minutes the clear priority became not conceding. At that stage, and already without Luis Suárez on the pitch but with Benfica midfielder Richard Ríos 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 a header from Campaz, who stands at 1.64 metres. That sealed the victory and top spot in the group, while the Uzbeks dropped to last place after the 1-1 draw between Portugal and DR Congo.

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