DR Congo came from behind to beat Uzbekistan and progress to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history.
The Leopards needed to win to extend their campaign, but fell behind in the 10th minute in Atlanta to Eldor Shomurodov’s sublime lob from a tight angle.
Congo levelled midway through the second half when Yoane Wissa, who was fouled by Abdukodir Khusanov, picked himself up to roll home from the penalty spot.
Substitute Fiston Mayele poached a second goal to turn things around in the 78th minute, before Wissa struck again in stoppage time to set up a last-32 clash with England.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan analysis:
DR Congo come back from the brink
The equation heading into the Group K finale was perfectly clear for DR Congo: win their first ever World Cup match, and they would be through to the knockout stages.
It didn’t start well for them. Uzbekistan had the ball in the net inside the opening 30 seconds, but they were saved by the offside flag.
The Leopards did fall behind to Shomurodov’s individual excellence, and they unlucky not to level when Nathanael Mbuku’s superb strike was disallowed following a VAR review.
Congo carried the greater threat, but were severely lacking a cutting edge until midway through the second half. Wissa’s calm penalty was their first attempt on target.
Nevertheless, that was the injection of purpose they desperately needed. Mayele’s wonderful instincts saw them turn the contest on its head, and any potentially late worries were spared by Wissa’s curling finish in stoppage time.
After crashing out with three straight defeats and conceding 14 unanswered goals on debut as Zaire in 1974, their successors have made amends by breaking new ground over half a century later.
Their reward is a showdown with England on Wednesday, with a place in the last 16 up for grabs.
Uzbekistan bow out empty handed
Fabio Cannavaro’s side had endured a real baptism of fire on their World Cup bow, conceding eight goals in their opening two games.
Incredibly, though, they still had the most outside of chances of qualifying for the round of 32, albeit they required a six-goal victory.
The White Wolves began with plenty of purpose. Even though Shomurodov’s first-minute finish was ruled out, it gave them a platform to build on, and they did eventually edge their noses in front.
However, a lapse in concentration from Manchester City’s Khusanov, who has struggled to build on his solid club form at this tournament, allowed Congo a route back into the contest.
It was one-way traffic thereon, with the Leopards pouncing on their momentum to edge their noses in front, before Wissa rubbed further salt into the wounds in stoppage time.
It’s unwanted history for Uzbekistan, who follow New Zealand in 1982 as a debutant to concede three or more goals in all three of their group games at the finals.
Nevertheless, the experience will only make them hungrier to return and give a better account of themselves in four years’ time.
Shomurodov shines before Wissa wows
Arguably the man most responsible for securing Uzbekistan’s qualification – scoring nine goals along the way – Shomurodov had been unable to replicate that form on the biggest stage of all.
Despite forcing the equaliser against Colombia, he registered a measly 0.06 xG from one attempt on goal. That dropped to 0.03 from a single shot in the 5-0 drubbing by Portugal.
However, the former Roma striker looked eager to make amends in this game. Putting the ball in the net inside 30 seconds – only to be thwarting by the offside flag – there was no denying his stunning lob just nine minutes later. He also went close with a cheeky dinked effort early in the second half.
Shomurodov then took a back seat, though, as Congo grew stronger in their quest to turn things around and snatch a place in the round of 32.
Wissa, who had previously struggled to find his range throughout the contest, put that to the back of his mind as he calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Newcastle United striker then saved his best until the last few minutes, beating Abduvokhid Nematov with a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the box.
Taking his tally for the tournament to three goals, he has equalled Morocco’s Ismael Saibari and Senegal’s Ismalia Sarr as the joint top-scoring African players at the finals. His form will be crucial if Congo are to stand any chance of stunning England in the round of 32.
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