It was the kind of match that demands your full attention. Posts. Crossbars. A historic first goal for Uzbekistan. A substitute goal in the dying seconds of stoppage time. And another woodwork rattle in the final seconds just to make sure the nerves were fully shredded. Colombia won 3–1 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but Uzbekistan, in their FIFA World Cup 2026™ debut, gave them considerably more trouble than the scoreline suggests.
Group K is alive. Colombia lead on three points. Portugal and DR Congo sit on one point each after their earlier draw. Uzbekistan are yet to open their account. Colombia face DR Congo next; Portugal take on Uzbekistan. Nothing is decided. Not yet.
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Colombia came close — Twice
Colombia arrived at the Azteca as favourites and spent the opening half-hour proving it — without the goals to show for it. Jhon Arias collected a sharp pass outside the penalty area in the 17th minute and hit a powerful long-range drive that whistled past the post and into the side netting. Close. Not close enough.
Fifteen minutes later, Luis Díaz was even closer. Skipping past his marker on the left edge of the penalty area, he curled a delicate left-footed strike with the kind of technique that makes crowds hold their breath. It curled. It dipped. It struck the base of the post and stayed out. Díaz turned away in disbelief. Goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov exhaled.
Muñoz’s Brilliant Opener (40′)
The breakthrough arrived ten minutes before halftime, and it was worth the wait. Díaz dropped deep, collected the ball with his back to goal, and without hesitation clipped a perfectly weighted overhead ball over the Uzbek defensive line. Daniel Muñoz had timed his run to perfection — arriving at full pace, he met the ball in stride and flicked it into the centre of the net with the outside of his right boot. A goal of real craft. Colombia led 1–0.
Uzbekistan headed into the interval trailing, but not out of it. Their head coach made a decisive change.
Fayzullaev’s Historic Goal — Uzbekistan’s First Ever (60′)
Uzbekistan introduced winger Dostonbek Khamdamov at halftime, and the substitution changed the match entirely. The second half was fifteen minutes old when Eldor Shomurodov picked up the ball on the left wing and delivered a dangerous cross into the Colombia penalty area. Khamdamov arrived at pace to meet it with a stinging volley — the shot beat Camilo Vargas but struck the post, rebounding back into the six-yard box.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev reacted faster than everyone. Diving forward, he powered a header into the net. 1–1. Uzbekistan had scored their first-ever goal at a World Cup. The players mobbed each other. The Uzbek supporters in the Azteca roared. It was a moment of pure footballing history, earned through genuine quality.
Díaz Restores the Lead — Through the Keeper’s Gloves (65′)
Parity lasted five minutes. Gustavo Puerta threaded a sharp pass through the Uzbek midfield into the feet of Luis Díaz, who had found space in the centre of the box. Díaz kept his composure and hit a low, driving shot — not spectacular, but placed. The ball slipped straight through the gloves of Yusupov and rolled over the line. A goalkeeping error that will sting. Colombia led 2–1.
Substitutes Wrap It Up in Stoppage Time (90+8′)
Colombia sealed the three points in the eighth minute of stoppage time through their substitutes. Cucho Hernández, full of energy from the bench, battled furiously to win possession on the right flank and immediately looked up. His looping cross arced beyond the far post, and Jaminton Campaz — also a substitute — read the flight perfectly, leaping to power a close-range header past Yusupov. 3–1. Colombia. Then, almost immediately, Karimov rattled the woodwork again. Right at the end. Uzbekistan’s luck throughout the match had been particularly cruel.
What This Means
Colombia lead Group K on three points. Portugal, with their 1–1 draw against DR Congo, are level on one point with Uzbekistan and DR Congo. Every remaining match in this group carries weight. Colombia face DR Congo next; Portugal take on Uzbekistan. Nothing is decided. Not yet.
For Uzbekistan, the historic first World Cup goal and the competitive performance across 90 minutes at the Azteca will matter greatly — not for the scoreline, but for the belief they carry into the rest of the tournament.
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