The first scoreless draw in Colombia‘s World Cup history was enough to win Group K.
Colombia tied Portugal 0-0 to finish first in the group on seven points. Portugal, which also tied with DR Congo to open the World Cup, finished second on five points.
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DR Congo scored three second-half goals to take down Uzbekistan 3-1 and finish third in the group. Four points is enough for DR Congo to clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top eight third-place teams. It’s the country’s first knockout round appearance ever.
Colombia and Portugal combined for 37 shots. Portugal had 24 of them, but the better chances went to Colombia, which forced Diogo Costa to make six saves.
Colombia thought it netted a late winner in added time, but the goal was flagged for an incredibly close offside that was confirmed after video review.
Portugal’s best attacking threat came after the first-half hydration break, when Camilo Vargas saved a Bruno Fernandes shot before João Felix‘s shot went over the crossbar just moments later.
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When the World Cup draw was released, all eyes immediately turned to a July 11 quarterfinal that could feature the winners of Group J and Group K. With Argentina in Group K, it was posited as the potential last time ever that Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo would face off against Lionel Messi.
Well, Messi and Argentina did their part. With two wins in two games, Argentina clinched Group J before Saturday night. Portugal needed to win Saturday to top the group and Ronaldo looked a lot more like the ineffective striker that played against DR Congo than the one who scored two goals against Uzbekistan.
With Portugal and Argentina now on opposite sides of the bracket, the July 19 World Cup final suddenly carries an irresistible possibility: one last meeting between the sport’s two most popular players.
Yoane Wissa had a brace for DR Congo. Wissa scored a 68th-minute penalty and then added a goal in added time to seal the win.
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Group K table, results
|
W |
D |
L |
GD |
GF |
TCS |
Pts |
||
|
1 |
Colombia* |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
-4 |
7 |
|
|
2 |
Portugal* |
1 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
-4 |
5 |
|
|
3 |
Congo DR* |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
-5 |
4 |
|
4 |
|
3 |
-9 |
2 |
-4 |
Wednesday, June 17: Portugal 1, DR Congo 1
Wednesday, June 17: Uzbekistan 1, Colombia 3
Tuesday, June 23: Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0
Tuesday, June 23: Colombia 1, DR Congo 0
Saturday, June 27: Colombia 0, Portugal 0
Saturday, June 27: DR Congo 3, Uzbekistan 1
Who will Colombia, Portugal play in knockout round?
Colombia vs. Ghana
9:30 p.m. ET, Friday, July 3, Kansas City
Colombia draws the third-place team from Group L after Ghana lost to Croatia on Saturday. A win over Ghana would likely mean a matchup with Switzerland on July 7 in Vancouver ahead of a potential game against Argentina on July 11 back in Kansas City.
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Portugal vs. Croatia
7 p.m. ET, Thursday, July 2, Toronto
Portugal loses out on a day of rest by finishing second in the group and also will play in Canada for the first time. Croatia beat Panama in Toronto and finished second in Group L as it looks to make the semifinals for a third consecutive World Cup. The winner will probably play Spain on July 6 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington before a potential quarterfinal matchup against the United States on July 10 in Los Angeles.
Will third-place team make knockout round?
Yes. DR Congo is in. With a goal differential of plus-1 and four points, DR Congo is actually the top third-place team. No other third-place team has a positive goal differential.
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Because of the knockout round permutations remaining, we know that DR Congo will play England at Noon ET on July 1 in Atlanta.
Can this group produce a World Cup winner?
The betting odds still like Portugal’s chances. But we’re not that certain after watching this team through three games. Portugal is the No. 5 favorite to win the World Cup at 10-1, but there are still major questions about Portugal’s attack. It’s looked slow and ineffective against teams not named Uzbekistan. Is there a tactical switch that can be made to make Portugal look more dangerous against better competition?
Colombia is a long shot at 33-1. A quarterfinal run is possible. But if Argentina is standing in the way, it’s hard to see how the run goes any further than that.
