Mpasi-Nzau heroics in vain as Colombia edge past Congo DR

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·24 juin 2026

Mpasi-Nzau heroics in vain as Colombia edge past Congo DR

Colombia secured a 1–0 victory over Congo DR at Estadio Guadalajara to move top of World Cup Group C with six points. Daniel Muñoz struck the decisive goal in the 76th minute, finishing from close range after Juan Fernando Quintero's pass deflected into his path.

The scoreline barely reflected Colombia's dominance, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau producing a string of outstanding saves to keep Congo DR level for 75 minutes. Luis Díaz had two goals disallowed in the closing stages as Colombia's pressure finally told. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Colombia v Congo DR.

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Winners

Lionel Mpasi-Nzau (Congo DR)

The Congo DR goalkeeper delivered one of the standout individual performances of the group stage despite finishing on the losing side. His brilliance between the posts was the sole reason the match remained goalless until the 76th minute, denying Colombia time and again with saves of the highest quality.

Mpasi-Nzau set the tone in the fourth minute with a superb diving stop to deny Jhon Arias from close range. He stretched to tip James Rodríguez's fierce long-range drive around the post, saved Johan Mojica's low effort at his near post, and produced his finest moment in the 50th minute when he somehow blocked Luis Díaz's shot with his left knee.

His resistance gave Congo DR hope throughout, and only a deflected strike from Daniel Muñoz finally beat him. Despite the defeat, Mpasi-Nzau's performance demonstrated exactly why he is trusted between the posts, making save after save to frustrate a Colombia attack that peppered his goal relentlessly.

Daniel Muñoz (Colombia)

The Crystal Palace right-back continued his remarkable attacking form with the match-winning goal in the 76th minute. Arriving late in the box, Muñoz swept home a left-footed finish into the bottom right corner after Juan Fernando Quintero's pass deflected into his path from Jhon Córdoba's hold-up play.

Muñoz had earlier demonstrated his willingness to join attacks when he headed in from Johan Mojica's cross in the sixth minute, only for the goal to be disallowed for a marginal offside. Minutes earlier, he had fired wide on the rebound after Mpasi-Nzau saved from Arias, showing the instinct to arrive in goalscoring positions.

His decisive strike was his second goal of the tournament following his effort against Uzbekistan in the opener. Operating as a right-back but contributing like a forward, Muñoz's ability to time his runs into the box proved the difference in a match Colombia had threatened to draw despite overwhelming pressure.

Loser

Jhon Arias (Colombia)

A frustrating night for the winger was defined by two clear chances that went begging. In the fourth minute, his first-time shot from close range was denied by an excellent Mpasi-Nzau save. That could be excused, but his miss in the 50th minute was far more costly.

After Mpasi-Nzau made a brilliant save with his knee to deny Luis Díaz, Arias was presented with the rebound and an empty goal. His right-footed shot drifted wide to the right, squandering an opportunity that should have settled the contest with 40 minutes still remaining.

Had Arias converted that chance, Colombia would have avoided the nervous wait until Muñoz's late winner. His miss kept Congo DR in a match that could have been put to bed far earlier. He was substituted in the 77th minute, his night ending without the goal his overall work rate might have merited.