Yoane Wissa netted a brace as the Democratic Republic of the Congo mounted a stunning three-goal turnaround against Uzbekistan, claiming a 3-1 victory in Atlanta to secure their maiden appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds. The Africans will now face England in the last 32, having registered their first-ever win at the tournament.
The result was all the more remarkable given that Uzbekistan had taken an early lead, threatening to derail the Congolese ambitions entirely. But a combination of individual brilliance, a controversial VAR decision, and a costly defensive error ultimately handed the DRC the momentum they needed to turn the match on its head.
Uzbekistan Strike First in Atlanta
Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan a dream opening, lobbing goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi from a tight angle to put his side ahead inside the first 10 minutes. The Istanbul Basaksehir forward had initially seen a strike ruled out for offside after just 30 seconds, but the Central Asian side’s captain and record scorer made no mistake on his second opportunity, producing a technically superb finish.
Uzbekistan had entered the contest knowing that progression was mathematically improbable — they required a massive swing in goal difference to advance. Nevertheless, coach Fabio Cannavaro had urged his players to compete for the win, framing the match as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy from their country’s debut World Cup campaign. His squad responded with intensity from the first whistle.
VAR Drama and the Turning Point
The DRC appeared to have drawn level when Nathanaël Mbuku fired a stunning effort into the top corner, only for the goal to be overturned following a VAR review. Officials determined that Mbuku had committed a foul on Sherzod Nasrullaev in the build-up, with his hand making contact with the Uzbek defender’s face — a soft call that left the Congolese players visibly frustrated.
The match shifted decisively when Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov lunged recklessly at Wissa inside the penalty area, conceding a spot kick. The Newcastle forward composed himself and sent goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way, converting calmly to level the scores and ignite the crowd of nearly 70,000 — the majority of whom had come to cheer on the DRC.
Mayele and Wissa Complete the Comeback
Just two minutes after the equaliser, the moment of history arrived. A deflected effort from Meschack Elia sat up perfectly for Fiston Mayele, who darted in ahead of Nematov and flicked the ball into the net to send the predominantly Congolese crowd into raptures. The stadium erupted as the DRC took the lead for the first time in the match.
Wissa then put the result beyond doubt, curling a precise strike into the far corner from the edge of the box in stoppage time — his third goal of the tournament and a fitting conclusion to a night of drama. Head coach Sébastien Desabre was already looking ahead to the next challenge: “We’ll start work immediately on preparing. We’ve got a few players in the squad who play at clubs in the English league, so they will help us, but we’ll prepare in the best way we can for what is going to be a very big match for us.”
Africa’s Stunning World Cup Campaign
The DRC’s advance through to the knockout stage adds another chapter to what has been a remarkable World Cup for African football. Of the ten African nations competing at the tournament, only Tunisia have been eliminated at the group stage, with Algeria still in contention to join the eight sides who have already progressed to the last 32 in their final group fixture later on Saturday.
For Uzbekistan, the journey ends here, but Cannavaro acknowledged the emotional toll on his players: “The World Cup is brutal. The players gave everything. They are sad in the changing room. They suffer more than anyone in Uzbekistan.” Despite the defeat, the Central Asian nation’s debut on football’s biggest stage represented a significant milestone for the country’s development.
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