10 hours ago
1
Colombia opened their World Cup Group K run with a 3-1 triumph implicit Uzbekistan astatine the Estadio Azteca connected Wednesday (June 17, 2026), as Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz struck to flooded a spirited second-half effect from the tourney debutants.
Uzbekistan were disciplined for agelong periods nether Fabio Cannavaro but Colombia's greater prime told successful beforehand of a assemblage of implicit 80,000 connected a cool, rain-tinged evening.
Colombia, Copa America runners-up, had aboriginal sights of extremity done Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan sat deep, scrapped gamely and waited for mistakes. Bekhruz Karimov astir profited erstwhile helium burst forward, lone for Jhon Lucumi to intervene earlier helium could shoot.
Diaz had the clearest accidental of the opening fractional erstwhile helium struck the post, earlier Abdukodir Khusanov slid successful aft the winger had knocked the shot past him, taking retired some the Colombian subordinate and a pitchside cameraman who required aesculapian treatment.
Uzbekistan's absorption yet cracked successful the 40th minute. Diaz gathered the shot aft an onslaught had breached down and clipped a good walk into the way of Daniel Munoz, who guided location a neat decorativeness for his 3rd planetary goal.
The ample Colombian contingent erupted, their yellow shirts making the Azteca look and dependable astir similar home. Chants of "Vamos Colombia", adapted from a Club America-style chorus, rolled astir the ground, portion Uzbekistan's tiny set of supporters answered with drums of their own.
First World Cup goal
Uzbekistan improved aft the interruption and equalised connected the hr with the country's archetypal World Cup goal.
Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomurodov, whose changeable from the close broadside of the container was saved debased by Camilo Vargas. The goalkeeper could not clasp it, however, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodded successful the rebound from adjacent range. Their joyousness lasted lone 5 minutes. Gustavo Puerta released Diaz successful the 65th infinitesimal and the guardant side-footed crossed extremity to reconstruct Colombia's lead. The assemblage responded with chants of "Lucho, Lucho".
Uzbekistan kept pushing. Akmal Mozgovoy changeable narrowly disconnected people successful stoppage time, Karimov hit the barroom with an effort from region and Azizbek Amonov had a changeable blocked aft Otabek Shukurov's pass.
But Colombia had the last word, Campaz scoring astatine the decease to settee a contention successful which Nestor Lorenzo's broadside had 15 attempts to Uzbekistan's 9 and extended their beardown caller group-stage grounds to 7 wins successful eight World Cup matches.
Cannavaro, 20 years aft lifting the World Cup arsenic Italy captain, became lone the 4th Ballon d'Or victor to look at a World Cup arsenic some subordinate and coach, pursuing Franz Beckenbauer, Oleg Blokhin and Marco van Basten.
Colombia look DR Congo connected Tuesday successful Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal successful Houston.
