Uzbekistan vs Colombia: Winners & losers - Díaz delivers in World Cup opener

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GOAL

·18 June 2026

Uzbekistan vs Colombia: Winners & losers - Díaz delivers in World Cup opener

Colombia claimed a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their World Cup opener at Estadio Azteca, recovering swiftly after conceding an equalizer to secure all three points. Luis Díaz proved decisive with a goal and assist, while Abbosbek Fayzullaev wrote his name into history by scoring Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup goal. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Uzbekistan v Colombia.

Winners

Luis Díaz (Colombia)

Luis Díaz delivered a commanding performance that drove Colombia to victory, contributing directly to two of his team's three goals. The winger provided the perfectly weighted through ball that released Daniel Muñoz for the opener in the 40th minute, then scored himself to restore Colombia's lead just five minutes after Uzbekistan had equalized.

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His left-footed strike in the 33rd minute that crashed against the post was described as the best chance of the first half. When Uzbekistan threatened to derail Colombia's opening fixture, Díaz responded immediately, finishing coolly with his right foot after receiving Gustavo Puerta's pass to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

Throughout the contest, Díaz tormented Uzbekistan's defence with direct running, drawing fouls and creating space for teammates. His all-round contribution ensured Colombia's superiority translated into a comfortable winning margin, placing them top of Group K after Portugal and DR Congo drew in the group's other match.

Gustavo Puerta (Colombia)

Gustavo Puerta delivered a mature and influential display from central midfield, producing the moment of quality that swung the match back in Colombia's favour. His quick thinking immediately after Uzbekistan's equalizer proved decisive, winning possession and setting up the response goal within minutes.

In the 65th minute, Puerta dispossessed Eldor Shomurodov in the centre of the pitch and immediately threaded a pass through to Luis Díaz, who restored Colombia's advantage. The turnover-to-assist sequence demonstrated his tactical intelligence and ability to punish opponents in transition.

Beyond the decisive contribution, Puerta showed intelligent movement between the lines, consistently offering passing options and helping progress play through Uzbekistan's defensive block. His combination of industry and decisive quality made him one of the match's outstanding performers before his substitution in the 80th minute.

Loser

Camilo Vargas (Colombia)

Making his first World Cup start despite this being his third tournament as part of Colombia's squad, Camilo Vargas endured a difficult evening defined by a significant error. His handling at a crucial moment gifted Uzbekistan their historic equalizer and briefly threatened to derail Colombia's opening fixture.

In the 60th minute, Eldor Shomurodov's shot struck the post and Vargas was unable to recover, allowing the ball to rebound into the path of Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who headed home from close range. The goalkeeper's attempt to gather appeared soft, leaving him stranded when the second opportunity arose.

Only Colombia's swift response, with Luis Díaz restoring the lead within five minutes, prevented greater damage. While Vargas faced limited other threats and distributed adequately throughout, the costly error at a pivotal moment allowed Uzbekistan to briefly level what had been a controlled Colombian performance.