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Group K Concludes: DR Congo set up England encounter

Questions asked again of Portugal's selection.

by Craig Laycock

Original article:

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Colombia drew with Portugal in a game that saw them top Group K. The margin could have been healthier at the top were it not for them having a late Sanchez goal ruled out for offside by the tiniest of margins (literally a toe or two).

While the scoreline didn’t look exciting, it was a game that provided plenty of entertainment. 

Meanwhile, DR Congo booked a place in the last 32 to play England after they beat Uzbekistan by coming from behind in an enjoyable encounter. 


***

Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal

Colombia and Portugal played out an extremely entertaining 0-0 draw that saw Colombia top the group and Portugal finish second as both sides qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup. 

A partisan crowd of yellow shirts overwhelmed the European side as Cristiano Ronaldo again showed he’s a long way adrift of being a potential Golden Boot contender with another anonymous performance that will lead to even more questions about Portugal’s selection strategy as the sight of a miserable CR7 trotting around the pitch was on firm display once more.


But both sides had chances, and plenty of them. 37 shots were attempted in this game, with 24 of those coming from Colombia as they looked to press home their momentum. James Rodriguez was particularly impressive in the Colombian midfield. 

And it could have been a win for Colombia had Davidson Sanchez not had a goal ruled out  at the end of stoppage time for the most marginal offside imaginable, with just his toe over the line, sending English pundit Wayne Rooney into an apoplectic fit that ended in a desperate plea to ban VAR in totality. 

But it’s not about Wayne, as Colombia nevertheless deservedly booked their place in the last 32 where they will face Ghana in Kansas City. Portugal will face the tricky test of Croatia, who finished second in Group L. 



***

DR Congo 3 - 1 Uzbekistan

Jokingly cited by football hipsters as the kind of obscure early morning World Cup fixture that explodes into life, the predictions weren’t actually wrong on this one. 

DR Congo and Uzbekistan played out a four goal entertaining game that put DR Congo through to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the last 32. 

It was Uzbekistan that took an exciting lead early in the game through Eldor Shomurodov, who capitalised on an early mix up between Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to collect the ball and chip the keeper. From there, they maintained their advantage throughout the first half and looked like they would be good value for a second. 

But DR Congo came back into the game and we saw another example of a goal disallowed for a foul during a build up phase, with a foul in DR Congo’s own half being used to rule out Mbuku’s effort down the other end. 

DR Congo came out fighting in the second half, knowing they needed a result here to have any chance to progress. First, Wissa converted a penalty after being tripped in the box. Then Mayele pulled DR Congo ahead by pouncing on a deflected shot. 

Wissa sealed the deal with a shot from the edge of the box in stoppage time to confirm DR Congo’s place in the last 32. Uzbekistan are out.



***

Final table:

1st - Group Winners

Colombia

2nd - Qualified

Portugal

3rd  - Must finish as one of top 8 3rd teams

DR Congo

4th  - Eliminated

Uzbekistan



7 min read

Group K Concludes: DR Congo set up England encounter

Questions asked again of Portugal's selection.

7 min read

Blog Image

Colombia drew with Portugal in a game that saw them top Group K. The margin could have been healthier at the top were it not for them having a late Sanchez goal ruled out for offside by the tiniest of margins (literally a toe or two).

While the scoreline didn’t look exciting, it was a game that provided plenty of entertainment. 

Meanwhile, DR Congo booked a place in the last 32 to play England after they beat Uzbekistan by coming from behind in an enjoyable encounter. 


***

Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal

Colombia and Portugal played out an extremely entertaining 0-0 draw that saw Colombia top the group and Portugal finish second as both sides qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup. 

A partisan crowd of yellow shirts overwhelmed the European side as Cristiano Ronaldo again showed he’s a long way adrift of being a potential Golden Boot contender with another anonymous performance that will lead to even more questions about Portugal’s selection strategy as the sight of a miserable CR7 trotting around the pitch was on firm display once more.


But both sides had chances, and plenty of them. 37 shots were attempted in this game, with 24 of those coming from Colombia as they looked to press home their momentum. James Rodriguez was particularly impressive in the Colombian midfield. 

And it could have been a win for Colombia had Davidson Sanchez not had a goal ruled out  at the end of stoppage time for the most marginal offside imaginable, with just his toe over the line, sending English pundit Wayne Rooney into an apoplectic fit that ended in a desperate plea to ban VAR in totality. 

But it’s not about Wayne, as Colombia nevertheless deservedly booked their place in the last 32 where they will face Ghana in Kansas City. Portugal will face the tricky test of Croatia, who finished second in Group L. 



***

DR Congo 3 - 1 Uzbekistan

Jokingly cited by football hipsters as the kind of obscure early morning World Cup fixture that explodes into life, the predictions weren’t actually wrong on this one. 

DR Congo and Uzbekistan played out a four goal entertaining game that put DR Congo through to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the last 32. 

It was Uzbekistan that took an exciting lead early in the game through Eldor Shomurodov, who capitalised on an early mix up between Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to collect the ball and chip the keeper. From there, they maintained their advantage throughout the first half and looked like they would be good value for a second. 

But DR Congo came back into the game and we saw another example of a goal disallowed for a foul during a build up phase, with a foul in DR Congo’s own half being used to rule out Mbuku’s effort down the other end. 

DR Congo came out fighting in the second half, knowing they needed a result here to have any chance to progress. First, Wissa converted a penalty after being tripped in the box. Then Mayele pulled DR Congo ahead by pouncing on a deflected shot. 

Wissa sealed the deal with a shot from the edge of the box in stoppage time to confirm DR Congo’s place in the last 32. Uzbekistan are out.



***

Final table:

1st - Group Winners

Colombia

2nd - Qualified

Portugal

3rd  - Must finish as one of top 8 3rd teams

DR Congo

4th  - Eliminated

Uzbekistan



Group K Concludes: DR Congo set up England encounter

Questions asked again of Portugal's selection.

Blog Image
Blog Image

Original article:

Colombia drew with Portugal in a game that saw them top Group K. The margin could have been healthier at the top were it not for them having a late Sanchez goal ruled out for offside by the tiniest of margins (literally a toe or two).

While the scoreline didn’t look exciting, it was a game that provided plenty of entertainment. 

Meanwhile, DR Congo booked a place in the last 32 to play England after they beat Uzbekistan by coming from behind in an enjoyable encounter. 


***

Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal

Colombia and Portugal played out an extremely entertaining 0-0 draw that saw Colombia top the group and Portugal finish second as both sides qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup. 

A partisan crowd of yellow shirts overwhelmed the European side as Cristiano Ronaldo again showed he’s a long way adrift of being a potential Golden Boot contender with another anonymous performance that will lead to even more questions about Portugal’s selection strategy as the sight of a miserable CR7 trotting around the pitch was on firm display once more.


But both sides had chances, and plenty of them. 37 shots were attempted in this game, with 24 of those coming from Colombia as they looked to press home their momentum. James Rodriguez was particularly impressive in the Colombian midfield. 

And it could have been a win for Colombia had Davidson Sanchez not had a goal ruled out  at the end of stoppage time for the most marginal offside imaginable, with just his toe over the line, sending English pundit Wayne Rooney into an apoplectic fit that ended in a desperate plea to ban VAR in totality. 

But it’s not about Wayne, as Colombia nevertheless deservedly booked their place in the last 32 where they will face Ghana in Kansas City. Portugal will face the tricky test of Croatia, who finished second in Group L. 



***

DR Congo 3 - 1 Uzbekistan

Jokingly cited by football hipsters as the kind of obscure early morning World Cup fixture that explodes into life, the predictions weren’t actually wrong on this one. 

DR Congo and Uzbekistan played out a four goal entertaining game that put DR Congo through to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the last 32. 

It was Uzbekistan that took an exciting lead early in the game through Eldor Shomurodov, who capitalised on an early mix up between Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to collect the ball and chip the keeper. From there, they maintained their advantage throughout the first half and looked like they would be good value for a second. 

But DR Congo came back into the game and we saw another example of a goal disallowed for a foul during a build up phase, with a foul in DR Congo’s own half being used to rule out Mbuku’s effort down the other end. 

DR Congo came out fighting in the second half, knowing they needed a result here to have any chance to progress. First, Wissa converted a penalty after being tripped in the box. Then Mayele pulled DR Congo ahead by pouncing on a deflected shot. 

Wissa sealed the deal with a shot from the edge of the box in stoppage time to confirm DR Congo’s place in the last 32. Uzbekistan are out.



***

Final table:

1st - Group Winners

Colombia

2nd - Qualified

Portugal

3rd  - Must finish as one of top 8 3rd teams

DR Congo

4th  - Eliminated

Uzbekistan



7 min read

Group K Concludes: DR Congo set up England encounter

Questions asked again of Portugal's selection.

Blog Image
Blog Image

Colombia drew with Portugal in a game that saw them top Group K. The margin could have been healthier at the top were it not for them having a late Sanchez goal ruled out for offside by the tiniest of margins (literally a toe or two).

While the scoreline didn’t look exciting, it was a game that provided plenty of entertainment. 

Meanwhile, DR Congo booked a place in the last 32 to play England after they beat Uzbekistan by coming from behind in an enjoyable encounter. 


***

Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal

Colombia and Portugal played out an extremely entertaining 0-0 draw that saw Colombia top the group and Portugal finish second as both sides qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup. 

A partisan crowd of yellow shirts overwhelmed the European side as Cristiano Ronaldo again showed he’s a long way adrift of being a potential Golden Boot contender with another anonymous performance that will lead to even more questions about Portugal’s selection strategy as the sight of a miserable CR7 trotting around the pitch was on firm display once more.


But both sides had chances, and plenty of them. 37 shots were attempted in this game, with 24 of those coming from Colombia as they looked to press home their momentum. James Rodriguez was particularly impressive in the Colombian midfield. 

And it could have been a win for Colombia had Davidson Sanchez not had a goal ruled out  at the end of stoppage time for the most marginal offside imaginable, with just his toe over the line, sending English pundit Wayne Rooney into an apoplectic fit that ended in a desperate plea to ban VAR in totality. 

But it’s not about Wayne, as Colombia nevertheless deservedly booked their place in the last 32 where they will face Ghana in Kansas City. Portugal will face the tricky test of Croatia, who finished second in Group L. 



***

DR Congo 3 - 1 Uzbekistan

Jokingly cited by football hipsters as the kind of obscure early morning World Cup fixture that explodes into life, the predictions weren’t actually wrong on this one. 

DR Congo and Uzbekistan played out a four goal entertaining game that put DR Congo through to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the last 32. 

It was Uzbekistan that took an exciting lead early in the game through Eldor Shomurodov, who capitalised on an early mix up between Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to collect the ball and chip the keeper. From there, they maintained their advantage throughout the first half and looked like they would be good value for a second. 

But DR Congo came back into the game and we saw another example of a goal disallowed for a foul during a build up phase, with a foul in DR Congo’s own half being used to rule out Mbuku’s effort down the other end. 

DR Congo came out fighting in the second half, knowing they needed a result here to have any chance to progress. First, Wissa converted a penalty after being tripped in the box. Then Mayele pulled DR Congo ahead by pouncing on a deflected shot. 

Wissa sealed the deal with a shot from the edge of the box in stoppage time to confirm DR Congo’s place in the last 32. Uzbekistan are out.



***

Final table:

1st - Group Winners

Colombia

2nd - Qualified

Portugal

3rd  - Must finish as one of top 8 3rd teams

DR Congo

4th  - Eliminated

Uzbekistan



7 min read

Original article: