Wissa Double Sends Congo DR Through past Uzbekistan

Starting Lineup

Congo DR arrived at Atlanta Stadium with no margin left. The Leopards needed a win over Uzbekistan to keep their World Cup alive, and the night gave them heat, pressure, and a second-half comeback that changed the shape of Group K.

The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta on a warm June night. Colombia and Portugal had already set the pace in the group. Congo DR entered the final group match chasing one of the third-place spots in the knockout round. Uzbekistan entered its final match still searching for something to take from its first World Cup.

Congo DR started in a 4-4-2 with Lionel Mpasi in goal, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba and Arthur Masuaku across the back, Noah Sadiki and Samuel Moutoussamy in midfield, Nathanael Mbuku and Brian Cipenga wide, and Cedric Bakambu with Yoane Wissa up front.

Uzbekistan lined up in a 3-4-3 with Abduvohid Nematov in goal, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov and Jakhongir Urozov in the back line, Khojiakbar Alijonov and Sherzod Nasrullaev wide, Akmal Mozgovoy and Otabek Shukurov inside, and Dostonbek Khamdamov, Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev in attack.

1st Half

Congo DR opened the match on the front foot. Yoane Wissa took the first shot in the opening minute after the ball fell loose in the box, but his right-footed effort missed the target.

Uzbekistan struck first in the ninth minute. Eldor Shomurodov found space inside the area, took a pass, and finished with his left foot to put Uzbekistan ahead 1-0.

The goal also changed the live table. Congo DR had entered the night needing a win to move on, and Shomurodov’s finish left Desabre’s team chasing both the match and its knockout place.

Uzbekistan settled into the lead after Shomurodov’s goal. Congo DR still had most of the ball, but the match narrowed into a search for space around Uzbekistan’s back line. Cipenga kept working from the right. Masuaku pushed the ball forward on the left. Congo DR got into useful areas, but the last touch was missing.

Wissa had another look in the 28th minute, this time from a cross on his left foot. He missed, and Congo DR kept pushing without finding the final touch.

The pressure built late in the half. Cipenga stood over a free kick in the 43rd minute, but the Uzbekistan wall did its job. Abdukodir Khusanov was booked on the play, and Sherzod Nasrullaev followed with another yellow in first-half stoppage time.

Congo DR kept coming after the bookings. Chancel Mbemba had a right-footed chance in the 47th minute after a loose ball, and Cipenga followed with another right-footed shot from a pass. Neither found the target.

Congo DR had the ball, the territory, and the late push. Uzbekistan had Shomurodov’s goal. That was enough to send Congo DR into halftime trailing 1-0.

2nd Half

Congo DR came out of halftime still chasing, and Wissa had the first look after the restart. He missed from a cross in the 49th minute. Uzbekistan answered a minute later with two chances, as Abbosbek Fayzullaev sent a free kick off target and Shomurodov missed with his right foot from a pass.

Sébastien Desabre made his first attacking change in the 51st minute, sending on Fiston Mayele for Cedric Bakambu. Congo DR had another runner through the middle and most of the half left to find the equalizer.

Congo DR started turning the pressure into better chances. Cipenga missed in the 52nd minute, and Mbuku forced Abduvohid Nematov into a save five minutes later. Mayele and Wissa both had looks before the hour, but Congo DR still trailed.

The equalizer came in the 67th minute. Wissa stepped to the penalty spot and finished with his right foot to make it 1-1.

The equalizer gave Congo DR the match back, but not the table. A draw still left it short of the result it needed, so the push for a second goal continued.

Desabre went to his bench in the 72nd minute, making three changes at once. The fresh legs gave Congo DR another push, and one of those substitutes helped create the lead five minutes later.

Elia put a right-footed shot on target in the 77th minute. Uzbekistan deflected it, but Mayele stayed with the loose ball and finished with his right foot to give Congo DR a 2-1 lead.

Mayele’s goal put Congo DR where it needed to be. At 2-1, Desabre’s team was protecting more than a comeback. It was protecting a place in the knockout round.

Uzbekistan went to its bench for a late push, but Congo DR kept the match under control.

Then Wissa put the game out of reach in stoppage time. He broke onto a pass, set himself on his right foot, and finished for his second goal of the night. The goal pushed Congo DR to 3-1, moved it into third place in Group K, and set up a Round of 32 match against England.

Closing Thoughts

Congo DR finished with 19 attempts, five on target and 2.11 expected goals. Uzbekistan finished with three attempts, one on target and 0.16 expected goals.

Wissa was the center of Congo DR’s attack. He took six of the team’s 19 shots, missing with his right foot, left foot and head before scoring the penalty that tied the match and the stoppage-time goal that finished it.

Mayele gave Congo DR the bench response it needed. He entered in the 51st minute, took five shots, and stayed alive in the box when Elia’s effort was deflected in the 77th. His finish turned the comeback into a lead.

Wissa and Mayele had help around them. Cipenga kept supplying the right side with eight open-play crosses. Masuaku drove Congo DR forward from the left, and Sadiki kept the midfield connected by completing 51 of 54 passes.

Uzbekistan’s attack ran through Shomurodov. He scored with his first chance in the ninth minute and had Uzbekistan’s only other open-play attempt in the 50th. The lead lasted almost an hour, but Uzbekistan never built enough around it.

Uzbekistan left Atlanta with its lead gone, its group stage over, and no points from its debut World Cup. Congo DR left with the country’s first World Cup win, a place in the knockout round, and England waiting next.