Lorenzo praises Colombia’s fight after 1-0 win over Congo DR
Lorenzo praised Colombia’s intensity after a 1-0 win over Congo DR, but the tight scoreline left one question: dominance or missed chances?
Néstor Lorenzo left Guadalajara praising Colombia’s movement, security and midfield control after a 1-0 win over Republic of Congo DR, but the slim margin kept the larger debate alive: whether the Selección looked like a true contender or a side that should have finished the job earlier.
The victory came on June 23, 2026, at Estadio Akron in the second round of Group K at the 2026 World Cup. Colombia finished with six points from two matches and stood as the provisional leader of the group, moving within reach of a place in the round of 16. The result also followed FIFA’s group setup, which put Colombia alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Congo DR.
Lorenzo did not hide his satisfaction with the effort. He said his players “se mataron por la victoria” and stressed that the team deserved to win by a wider margin. His assessment matched the way Colombia controlled long stretches of the match, with the coach highlighting the team’s mobility and the work of the midfield as the main reasons the side stayed in command.
That praise, however, sat alongside an obvious frustration. Colombia created enough to make the final score more comfortable, and Lorenzo himself acknowledged that the Tricolor could have opened a bigger gap. The 1-0 line kept Congo DR in the contest longer than Colombia’s play suggested it should have.
The narrow win extended a strong start to the tournament. Colombia opened Group K with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan on June 18, 2026, in Mexico City, with goals from Daniel Muñoz, Luis Díaz and Jaminton Campaz. That performance already had Colombia in a favorable position before the Congo DR match, and the second straight win strengthened that standing.
The next test arrives against Portugal on June 27 in Miami, where Colombia will face the group’s toughest check yet. With six points already secured and the midfield looking settled, Lorenzo’s team enters that match with results on its side and a sharper demand still hanging over it: turning control into a larger scoreline when the chance is there.
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