Abdukodir Khusanov's penalty foul on Yoane Wissa in the 68th minute changed everything. Wissa converted, then Fiston Mayele came off the bench to make it 2-1 at the 78th minute, and Wissa sealed it at 90'+1' with a finish set up by fellow substitute Meschack Elia. The Leopards got the 3 points they needed, and the numbers now strongly favor them pushing through to the Round of 32 as a best third-place team.
Uzbekistan came out looking like a team that had nothing to lose. Shomurodov latched onto Azizbek Mozgovoy's through ball in the 10th minute and chipped the keeper with real quality — exactly the kind of counter-attacking threat Fabio Cannavaro had built his system around. They held the lead into halftime and made it uncomfortable for a Congo side that couldn't find its shape.
Then Khusanov gave away the penalty and the entire second half came undone. Uzbekistan leave the 2026 World Cup with 0 points, having conceded goals in every group-stage match. Shomurodov gave everything he had and was a genuine danger throughout — but he couldn't carry this team alone. Cannavaro's defensive structure never held up against quality opponents, and the goal difference tells the rest of the story.
Both picks cashed. The moneyline on DR Congo was right — the bull case held on every key point. Uzbekistan's defense kept leaking, the win-or-go-home pressure was real, and the Leopards delivered once the game opened up. The over 2.5 goals hit just as cleanly: Congo DR scored in bunches and Uzbekistan couldn't hold, exactly as the numbers suggested heading in.
The market had DR Congo at roughly 59% to win, and the 3-1 final was more decisive than that implied. Uzbekistan made a genuine case early — Shomurodov's goal was legitimate — but Khusanov's penalty surrender handed the momentum away for good. Group K closes with Colombia and Portugal through as the top 2, and DR Congo almost certainly joining them via the best-third route. Uzbekistan go home with nothing to show.
England1-2
Uzbekistan3-1
Colombia0-1
Portugal1-1DR Congo1-3Portugal0-5Colombia1-3