World Cup 2026: Muñoz Breakdown! Deflected strike pierces Mpasi’s Heroic Wall as Colombia Edges DR Congo to Claim Round of 32 Berth

By Temi Kings

Guadalajara, México. As anyone who has ever navigated the legendary gridlock of Mexican traffic knows, there are times when an impasse feels absolutely permanent. For 75 minutes at a raucous, yellow-washed Estadio Guadalajara, Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombia felt that exact agonising frustration. They were dominating, probing, and firing from all angles, yet they could not find a breach through a human brick wall named Lionel Mpasi.

But soccer is a game of persistence, and fortune eventually favours the relentless.

In a gruelling, high-stakes Group K encounter, Colombia finally broke the stubborn resistance of a heroic DR Congo side, grinding out a 1-0 victory to officially punch their ticket to the World Cup 2026 Round of 32. Crystal Palace wingback Daniel Muñoz emerged as the hero for the second consecutive matchday, scoring a dramatic, deflected second-half winner to reward Los Cafeteros for their overwhelming attacking initiative.

The narrow victory ensures Colombia’s progression with a game to spare, setting up a blockbuster Matchday 3 clash against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal for the top spot in the group. Meanwhile, the Leopards of DR Congo are left empty-handed despite an iconic defensive performance, meaning they must defeat Uzbekistan in their finale to keep any knockout dreams alive.

First half: The Lionel Mpasi masterclass

From the opening whistle, the tactical blueprint of the match was clear. DR Congo manager Sébastien Desabre deployed a heavily reinforced 5-3-2 low block designed to throttle Colombia’s creative hub. Yet, Colombia’s fluid trio of James Rodríguez, Jhon Arias, and Luis Díaz systematically carved open spaces, turning the first half into an exclusive duel between Colombia’s frontline and DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi.

In the 7th minute, Colombia thought they had cracked the code. Jhon Arias unleashed a fierce drive that Mpasi brilliantly parried. The rebound fell directly to Daniel Muñoz, who bundled it into the net from close range. However, the deafening celebrations from the 90% Colombian crowd were abruptly cut short when a swift VAR review ruled Muñoz offside on the initial phase.

Match Progress: Colombia 0 - 0 DR Congo (Halftime)
📊 Total Shots: Colombia 9 - 2 DR Congo
🧤 Mpasi Saves: 5 before the first hydration break

Mpasi was just getting started. The Le Havre shot-stopper single-handedly preserved the deadlock, producing world-class saves to deny a curling effort from Gustavo Puerta and a powerful, goal-bound header from Davinson Sánchez following a James Rodríguez corner.

While the action raged on the pitch, the stands provided their own spectacle. Famous Congolese super-fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga (known globally as “Lumumba Vea”) stood impeccably still on a stool in his bright national colours, flanked by a bodyguard wearing leopard skin, absorbing the pressure as his goalkeeper single-handedly kept the African nation afloat.

Second half: Lorenzo rolls the Dice, Muñoz finds the Breakthrough

The pattern intensified after the interval. Luis Díaz had a golden, point-blank opportunity in the 51st minute, but his low strike was uncharacteristically sent straight into the midriff of the sprawling Mpasi.

Sensing his team was beginning to display symptoms of offensive anxiety, Néstor Lorenzo made a decisive, double tactical alteration in the 57th minute. He withdrew the tiring duo of James Rodríguez and Luis Suárez, introducing the physical presence of Jhon Córdoba and the inventive wizardry of Juan Fernando Quintero.

The gamble completely unlocked the match. In the 76th minute, Quintero picked up the ball on the edge of the area and slid an intelligent, incisive pass down the right side of the box. Jhon Córdoba collapsed to the turf under defensive pressure, momentarily distracting half of the Congolese defense who looked at the referee for a penalty appeal.

Muñoz didn’t hesitate. The wingback ghosted into the open space, seized the loose ball, and lashed a fierce left-footed strike. The shot took a wicked, definitive deflection off center-back Steve Kapuadi, completely wrongfooting the exceptional Mpasi and nestling into the bottom corner.

“We knew we had to remain calm,” Daniel Muñoz told ESPN after the match. “Mpasi was having the game of his life, and when you see your goals getting disallowed, it’s easy to lose focus. But Juanfer [Quintero] gave us that extra bit of magic. The deflection was the bit of luck we earned for pushing all night.”

The Decisive Breakthrough:
[76'] ⚽ Colombia Goal — Daniel Muñoz (Assist: Juan Fernando Quintero)

Colombia looked to add structural gloss to the scoreline in the 80th minute when Luis Díaz beautifully curled a right-footed rocket into the top corner, but the linesman’s flag once again denied the Liverpool winger for a marginal offside. DR Congo mounted a late, frantic aerial assault via set-pieces from substitute Nathanaël Mbuku, but Camilo Vargas commanded his box perfectly to secure the clean sheet and the crucial three points.

Match statistics & Box score

Match Timeline

• 7′ — 🖥️ VAR Disallowed Goal: Daniel Muñoz (Colombia — Offside)

• 45′ — 🔄 Substitution: Noah Sadiki replaces Ngal’ayel Mukau (DR Congo)

• 55′ — 🟨 Yellow Card: Jhon Lucumí (Colombia)

• 56′ — 🔄 Substitution: Simon Banza replaces Cédric Bakambu (DR Congo)

• 57′ — 🔄 Substitution: Jhon Córdoba replaces Luis Suárez (Colombia)

• 57′ — 🔄 Substitution: Juan Fernando Quintero replaces James Rodríguez (Colombia)

• 71′ — 🔄 Substitution: Joris Kayembe replaces Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)

• 71′ — 🔄 Substitution: Charles Pickel replaces Edo Kayembe (DR Congo)

• 76′ — ⚽ Goal: Daniel Muñoz (Assisted by Juan Fernando Quintero) | COL 1 – 0 COD

• 76′ — 🔄 Substitution: Richard Ríos replaces Jhon Arias (Colombia)

• 80′ — 🖥️ VAR Disallowed Goal: Luis Díaz (Colombia — Offside)

• 81′ — 🔄 Substitution: Nathanaël Mbuku replaces Samuel Moutoussamy (DR Congo)

• 90+3′ — 🟨 Yellow Card: Jefferson Lerma (Colombia)

• 90+3′ — 🟨 Yellow Card: Charles Pickel (DR Congo)

Starting lineups

Group K Outlook: A Monumental finale awaits

With 6 points from their opening two matches, Colombia can officially rest easy knowing their knockout baseline is secured. Their objective now turns entirely to June 27th, where a draw or a win against a dangerous Portuguese side will ensure they claim the coveted top seed in Group K, mapping out a theoretically smoother route through the bracket.

For DR Congo, this is a heartbreaking result, but by no means the end of the road. Their opening-day draw against Portugal means they sit on 1 point. If Desabre’s squad can maintain this elite defensive organisation and find their clinical edge against Uzbekistan, a victory should comfortably see them qualify as either the group runners-up or one of the top four third-placed teams in the expanded format.