Uzbekistan's World Cup hopes end as DR Congo clinch knockout spot

DR Congo's 3‑1 comeback win over Uzbekistan in Atlanta secured a round‑of‑32 clash with England, while the Uzbek side bowed out of the tournament, leaving midfielder Abdukodir Khusanov as the first Manchester City player to return home from the World Cup.

The opening ten minutes were dominated by a defensive lapse between Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka that gifted Uzbekistan an early lead. In the 10th minute, Eldor Shomurodov intercepted a loose ball and dinked it over Lionel Mpasi to put the Asian side ahead.

Uzbekistan continued to dictate the early phases with a fluid attack, while the Leopards struggled to find rhythm. Their frustration grew when a Nathanael Mbuku strike was ruled out for an alleged foul, leaving Sébastien Desabre’s men trailing at the interval.

The second half saw DR Congo revive their tempo, pressing aggressively to revive their knockout ambitions. A pivotal moment arrived when Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov clumsily upended Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa inside the box, awarding a penalty. Wissa stepped up and calmly rolled the spot‑kick into the net, sparking the comeback.

The surge continued in the 78th minute when Fiston Mayele reacted to a deflected Meschack Elia strike and slotted home from close range. Yoane Wissa added a third goal in stoppage time, cutting inside before firing a magnificent finish into the far corner. The 3‑1 victory secured third place in Group K for DR Congo.

With the win, DR Congo booked a historic round‑of‑32 encounter against England, the Three Lions. Uzbekistan’s defeat confirmed their exit from the tournament, leaving Khusanov as the first Manchester City player to head home from the World Cup.

Khusanov’s individual stats against DR Congo included 51 touches, 32 accurate passes at an 82 % pass accuracy, and seven clearances. He also recorded six recoveries, five accurate long balls, four headed clearances, three tackles and a penalty conceded,