Colombia booked their place in the World Cup round of 32 with a hard-earned victory over DR Congo, moving to six points from two group matches on Tuesday. The result leaves DR Congo on one point and needing a result in their final game against Uzbekistan to keep their hopes of progressing alive. Colombia will finish the group against Portugal, who beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier in the day to tighten the race for top spot. Daniel Muñoz was on the scoresheet for Colombia, celebrating a crucial breakthrough that rewarded the nation’s persistent pressure. Throughout the contest, Colombia controlled long spells of possession and fashioned the clearer chances, yet they were time and again denied by an inspired Lionel Mpasi. The DR Congo goalkeeper produced a string of excellent saves to thwart James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias, keeping his side in contention deep into the second half. James pulled the strings between the lines, switching play and feeding the wide runners as Colombia stretched the pitch. Díaz constantly asked questions on the left, driving at defenders and looking to combine in tight spaces, while Arias offered balance from the right with incisive movement off the ball. Colombia’s patience and structure eventually told, with Muñoz’s timely contribution punctuating a performance built on control and belief. Defensively, Colombia limited DR Congo to few open looks, compressing space quickly after turnovers and managing transitions with discipline. When required, the back line stepped in decisively, snuffing out counterattacks before they developed. DR Congo, for their part, battled with resolve and nearly found a way back through set pieces and late surges, but they lacked the finishing touch to turn pressure into an equalizer. The implications are clear: Colombia are safely through to the knockout phase with a game to spare and now turn their attention to Portugal in a matchup that could define group positioning. DR Congo face a decisive test against Uzbekistan, where any positive result could be vital. With momentum gathering and confidence growing, Colombia’s blend of control, creativity and composure arrives at precisely the right time in the World Cup campaign.