DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan: Leopards roar back to revive Group K hopes
If you slept past the 07:30 alarm, you missed a proper comeback. Uzbekistan led inside ten minutes and looked organised, but DR Congo flipped the script after the break, scoring three times to win 3–1 in Atlanta and keep their last-16 hopes firmly alive in a congested Group K.
Final score: DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan — kick-off was Sunday 28 June 2026, 7:30 AM Singapore time at Atlanta.
The storylines
This was DR Congo's statement of intent. Held by Portugal and edged by Colombia in their opening two games, the Leopards needed a result that turned promise into points, and they delivered it the hard way. Falling behind early, they refused to panic, grew into the contest, and finished with a three-goal flurry. The 3–1 scoreline lifts them to four points in Group K and keeps a knockout berth within touching distance heading into the final round.
For Uzbekistan, the night confirmed a sobering tournament. Eldor Shomurodov's tenth-minute strike, teed up by Akmal Mozgovoy, briefly suggested a first reward for their efforts after defeats to Colombia and a heavy loss to Portugal. Instead they collapsed in the second half and sit bottom of Group K on zero points from three games. Their tournament is effectively over, the early lead in Atlanta now a painful footnote to a campaign that promised more.
Yoane Wissa was the difference. His coolly converted penalty on 68 minutes hauled DR Congo level and shifted the momentum entirely, before Fiston Mayele, set up by Meschack Elia, swept them ahead on 78. Wissa then sealed it deep into stoppage time on 91, his second of the night. From one goal down to comfortable winners, the Leopards showed the resilience and ruthlessness that separates teams who advance from those who simply compete.
The tactical battle
Uzbekistan's plan was clear and initially effective: strike early, then sit deep and frustrate. Shomurodov's tenth-minute finish handed them exactly that platform. But DR Congo's persistence wore them down. Once Wissa's penalty restored parity, the Leopards committed numbers forward and Uzbekistan had no answer, conceding twice more as legs and belief faded. The contrast between a side defending a lead and one chasing meaning told the story across the second half.
Players to watch
- Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan) — Took his early chance superbly; the lone bright spark in a bottom-placed campaign.
- Akmal Mozgovoy (Uzbekistan) — Created the opener with a sharp assist, showing the creativity Uzbekistan needed more of.
- Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan) — Defensive anchor tasked with shielding a lead that ultimately slipped away.
What's at stake
The result reshapes Group K. DR Congo move to four points, third behind Colombia on seven and Portugal on five, with everything to play for in the final round. Uzbekistan, stranded on zero from three games, are out of contention. For the Leopards this was the night their tournament truly began; for Uzbekistan, the night it quietly ended.
Key moments
- Shomurodov pounces on Mozgovoy's pass to put Uzbekistan ahead inside ten minutes
- Wissa levels from the penalty spot on 68 to swing momentum
- Mayele finishes Elia's assist on 78 to complete the turnaround
- Wissa strikes again on 91 to seal a 3–1 win
FAQ
What time is DR Congo vs Uzbekistan in Singapore? Sunday 28 June 2026, 7:30 AM Singapore time (SGT).
Where is DR Congo vs Uzbekistan being played? At Atlanta.
What is the head-to-head record between DR Congo and Uzbekistan? A first competitive meeting of note for these two at this tournament, with both arriving from contrasting starts — DR Congo searching for a breakthrough, Uzbekistan still chasing a first point.