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06/27 20:42 CDT Congo rallies to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan to seal place in
the World Cup knockouts
Congo rallies to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan to seal place in the World Cup
knockouts
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Congo advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the
first time by rallying to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan on Saturday night.
The African nation was playing in soccer's biggest tournament for only the
second time in its history after a 52-year absence. Two second-half goals from
Yoane Wissa and one from Fiston Mayele sealed the win and saw Congo join Cape
Verde as another surprise qualifier for the round of 32.
Uzbekistan led through Eldor Shomurodov's first-half strike that looked set to
end Congo's hopes.
But Sbastien Desabre's team, which had already pulled off one of the surprise
results of the World Cup by holding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a 1-1 draw
in its opening game, fought back after the break.
Trailing to Shomurodov's lobbed goal in the 10th minute, 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 by rolling the ball into the bottom corner to spark a dramatic finale.
Mayele fired Congo ahead 10 minutes later when flicking past Nematov at the
near post after Meschack Elia's shot was deflected.
Wissa put the result beyond doubt in added time with a curling shot into the
bottom corner.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
