Daniel Muñoz breaks DR Congo resistance to send Colombia into World Cup knockouts

As anybody who’s ever encountered Mexican traffic jams will know, there are times when it feels you’ll never get through the impasse. Colombia must have felt the same about the DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made an outrageous string of saves that looked like they might earn his side an unlikely point. The Le Havre keeper was finally beaten – but only by a deflection that gave Colombia their second successive win a secured their passage to the last 32.

It was Daniel Muñoz who got the goal, the Crystal Palace right-back’s second in as many games, as he cut in from the right with half the DRC side seemingly distracted by a penalty appeal at the edge of the box. His shot flicked off Steve Kapuadi, wrongfooting Mpasi to beat him at his near post. Thereafter Mpasi passed his duties in thwarting Colombia to the linesman, who twice ruled out extravagant finishes from Luis Díaz. A draw in their final game, against Portugal, would be enough for Colombia to top the group and secure a tie against a best third-place team in Kansas City. Second place will play the runner-up in England’s group in Toronto.

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