Bayern professional trumps
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Bayern professional Luis Díaz saved Colombia from a minor embarrassment against World Cup newcomers Uzbekistan. The 29-year-old prepared his team’s first goal for Daniel Muñoz (40th minute) in the 3-1 (1-0) win at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, and he scored the second goal himself in the 65th minute. Jaminton Campaz also scored deep in stoppage time. The Uzbeks had meanwhile equalized through Abbosbek Fayzullaev (60th).
The World Cup debutant from Central Asia was able to leave the pitch with his head held high. They played not only against a Díaz in Munich double form, but against the entire stadium, which was sold out with 80,824 spectators. As soon as they stepped onto the lawn of the historic football temple, the players were whistled mercilessly.
But she didn’t seem to be particularly impressed at first. The words of their Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, who himself won the World Cup as a player with Italy in Germany in 2006, seemed to have sunk in. “I told them that they had nothing to lose,” the 52-year-old explained. “You should just enjoy it.”
The Uzbeks defended extremely well with their defensive chain, and in the duels they held their own – there was no question of being in awe of stars like the former Bayern player James Rodríguez or the current Munich professional Díaz. However, the Uzbeks were lucky for the first time in the 17th minute when a shot from Jhon Arias landed in the side netting.
Colombia’s Díaz show: first hit the post, then assist
It got even tighter a quarter of an hour later. And this time it was Díaz who hit the inside post with a left-footed shot from an almost acute angle. The Uzbeks stuck to their plan undeterred and highly disciplined.
Only they did the math without Díaz. He served Muñoz with a measured pass across the defensive line. The professional from Conference League winners Crystal Palace artistically pushed the ball into the goal.
But a 1-0 lead for the favorites doesn’t mean anything, as Portugal had previously experienced that against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The other two teams in Group K had a 1-1 draw. Despite all their defensive discipline, the Uzbeks continued to get in front of the Colombian goal even after the break. And her
goal: Keeper Camilo Vargas somehow fended off a shot from captain Eldor Shomurodov, but Fayzullaev only had to nod the ball in. But Díaz repaired that with his goal after a counterattack. Shortly before the end, Campaz increased.
Ghana celebrates last-minute win against Panama
In the pouring rain in Toronto, Caleb Yirenkyi had previously saved Ghana from an opening embarrassment against World Cup outsiders Panama with his late goal. The 20-year-old scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to make it 1-0 (0-0) for Ghana, which was disappointing for a long time. The brave soccer dwarf from Panama has to wait for his first point at a World Cup. This is Panama’s second World Cup participation after 2018.
In a game at a modest level, the Central Americans were even the better of two weak teams for a long time in front of 42,942 spectators. But then Yirenkyi shocked coach Thomas Christiansen’s team deep into stoppage time. In the remaining group games against England and Croatia, both rivals are outsiders. Ghana will also have to improve significantly to have a chance against the top teams.