Díaz inspires Colombia past Uzbekistan as debutants grab historic first goal

Luis Díaz ran the show as Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Azteca to go top of Group K, with Daniel Muñoz and Jáminton Campaz also scoring. Abbosbek Fayzullayev's strike gave the debutants their first-ever World Cup goal.

Colombia opened their World Cup with the kind of controlled, grown-up performance that marks out a side with real designs on this tournament. They beat debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 at a sun-baked Estadio Azteca on Thursday evening, and while the scoreline reads comfortably enough, the Central Asians made Néstor Lorenzo's men work hard for stretches of a genuinely entertaining night in Mexico City.

The man at the centre of everything was Luis Díaz. Kenyan fans know him well from his Liverpool years in the Premier League, and the winger ran the show here, drifting infield, stretching the Uzbek back line, and demanding two and three markers every time he picked up the ball. He finished the night as the obvious choice for man of the match.

Colombia probed patiently and broke through on 40 minutes. Díaz wriggled clear on the left and rolled the ball across goal, and Daniel Muñoz arrived at the far post to tuck it home. The Crystal Palace full-back, fresh off lifting the Conference League at Selhurst Park, timed his run perfectly and gave Colombia a lead their first-half pressure deserved.

Uzbekistan refused to wilt. Fabio Cannavaro's side came out for the second half with belief, and on 60 minutes they had their moment. Abbosbek Fayzullayev reacted quickest inside a crowded box and bundled the ball over the line. It was the first World Cup goal in Uzbekistan's history, and captain Eldor Shomurodov led the celebrations as the underdogs sensed something special.

The parity lasted five minutes. Díaz restored the lead on 65, gathering possession and drilling a low strike that the Uzbek goalkeeper got a hand to but could not keep out. Huyu Díaz ni moto kweli: this Díaz is genuinely on fire. From there the South Americans steadied, kept the ball, and slowly squeezed the life out of the contest.

Substitute Jáminton Campaz settled it deep into stoppage time. He latched onto a swift counterattack in the 90th minute and finished coolly for 3-1, a goal that flattered Colombia slightly but reflected their greater quality across the ninety.

The result sends Colombia top of a Group K that also holds Portugal and DR Congo, and a winning start eases any nerves before the bigger tests to come. Uzbekistan, ranked 50th in the world and playing on this stage for the first time, can hold their heads high. They troubled a strong side and wrote themselves a piece of history that nobody can take away.

For Kenyan viewers who follow the Premier League every weekend, this was a night to watch a familiar face deliver on the biggest stage. For a fuller picture of how the rest of the tournament is shaping up, read our South America round-one verdict and our Asia round-one verdict.