Atlanta: For 52 years, Congo’s standout World Cup memory was a humiliating 9-0 defeat by Yugoslavia in its only previous appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.
Not anymore. Not after a new generation of players made history by going through the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time to set up a showdown with England.
Congo secured their place in the round of 32 by rallying for a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan on Saturday night.
Two second-half goals from Yoane Wissa and one from Fiston Mayele sealed a dramatic comeback win and saw Congo join Cape Verde as another surprise qualifier for the next round. After holding Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a surprise 1-1 draw earlier in the tournament, Congo topped it with their first win at a World Cup.
After Eldor Shomurodov’s goal in the 10th minute, Sébastien Desabre’s side hit back after the break.
Congo equalized in the 68th when Wissa was brought down by Abdukodir Khusanov in the box for a penalty.
Wissa picked himself up and sent Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way, curling the ball into the bottom corner to spark a flurry of late goals.
Mayele fired Congo ahead 10 minutes later when he slotted past Nematov at the near post after Meschack Elia’s shot was deflected.
Wissa put the score beyond doubt in added time with a shot into the bottom corner.
Congo are returning to the World Cup for the first time since competing as Zaire in 1974, when they lost all three matches, including a loss to Yugoslavia.
The draw against Portugal was their first point at this stage and they needed to follow it up with their first win to advance as one of the best teams in third place.
They became the eighth African nation to advance from the group stage at this tournament.
