Yoane Wissa finished with two goals, an 8 rating and six shots as Congo DR came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Congo DR vs Uzbekistan. It was the standout display in a game they had to win, and it delivered more than just qualification. Congo DR now have their first World Cup victory and a round of 32 tie with England on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Sky Sports summed it up neatly: "Yoane Wissa scored two as the Democratic Republic of Congo fought from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta and book a round of 32 clash against England."

Wissa's numbers told the story

Wissa was the obvious difference in the match. Two goals settled the headline, but the wider output mattered too. He took six shots, put two on target and ended as Congo DR's best-rated player with an 8.

That fit the shape of the game. Congo DR were chasing it after Eldor Shomurodov scored in the 10th minute, and Wissa kept turning up in the areas that gave Uzbekistan problems.

RTÉ's match report also put him at the centre of the result: "Yoane Wissa scored twice as DR Congo came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and progress to the round of 32 of the World Cup."

There is a small source split over his tournament tally. Some reports left room for confusion over whether this was his second or third goal of the competition. The verified match and recent-tournament records point one way: Wissa went into the game with one goal and left it with three. The more important point for this game is simpler, he scored twice and carried the attack when Congo DR needed it.

The turnaround after a bad start

Congo DR did not ease into the night. Uzbekistan were ahead early through Shomurodov, and Nathanaël Mbuku then had an equaliser ruled out after VAR judged a foul in the build-up.

That could have rattled them. Instead, the comeback kept building, and Wissa was at the centre of it before Fiston Mayele scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute.

One detail does need to stay clear here. Wissa's second goal came from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, not from open play. In a game full of momentum swings, that kind of precision matters because the match events were chaotic enough without adding loose retellings.

Congo DR ended with three goals after falling behind, which says plenty about their response and about how much pressure they eventually put on Uzbekistan. For a side playing their first World Cup in 52 years, this was not just a dramatic result. It was the win they had never managed before.

What the win sets up next

A first World Cup victory would have been enough on its own. Reaching the round of 32 gives it a harder edge, because the next reward is England on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Wissa will take most of the attention after a brace and an all-action display, and fairly so. In a 3-1 comeback, the player with two goals, six shots and the best rating has earned that. But Congo DR also showed something useful beyond the headline name: they recovered from an early setback, absorbed a disallowed goal and still found a way to take control.

That is why this felt bigger than a decent individual night. Wissa was the centre of it, but Congo DR now head into the England match with a result that already sits on its own in their World Cup history. Wednesday's round of 32 tie in Atlanta is next.

FAQ

Why was Yoane Wissa the key player in DR Congo vs Uzbekistan?

Wissa scored twice in DR Congo’s 3-1 comeback over Uzbekistan and finished as their best-rated player with an 8. He also had six shots, with two on target, which underlined how often he drove the attack in a game Congo DR had to turn around.

Was DR Congo’s win over Uzbekistan their first World Cup victory?

Yes. The 3-1 win over Uzbekistan was Congo DR’s first World Cup victory. It came after they returned to the tournament following a 52-year absence, which gave the result extra weight beyond just reaching the round of 32.

Who do DR Congo play after beating Uzbekistan at the World Cup?

DR Congo will face England in the round of 32 on Wednesday in Atlanta. They earned that tie by coming from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1, with Yoane Wissa scoring twice and Fiston Mayele adding the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →