By Our Man at the Azteca
LUIS DIAZ announced his arrival on football’s grandest stage with a scintillating performance to hand Colombia a vital opening-day 3-1 win over World Cup debutants Uzbekistan. In a rain-tinged, high-octane evening at the iconic Estadio Azteca, the wing wizard provided a goal and an assist to send Nestor Lorenzo’s men straight to the top of Group K.
The South Americans immediately laid siege to Fabio Cannavaro’s structured Uzbek backline, racking up fifteen total attempts on goal across ninety minutes of breathless action.
The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before the interval. Diaz collected a loose ball, showing his world-class vision to clip a majestic pass over the defence into the path of flying right-back Daniel Munoz, who brilliantly volleyed home with the outside of his boot.
But the tournament debutants refused to lie down.
On the hour mark, Uzbekistan historicised their first-ever World Cup appearance. After Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas could only parry a stinging low volley from Eldor Shomurodov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev reacted fastest to nod home a famous equalizer, sparking wild celebrations from the small contingent of Asian supporters.
Uzbekistan’s joy, however, lasted a mere five minutes before Diaz took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The superstar forward latched onto a squared ball from Gustavo Puerta on the edge of the area and rifled a low drive into the bottom corner. The ball trickled past Utkir Yusupov’s diving hands to restore the lead and prompt deafening chants of “Lucho, Lucho” from the stands.
While the valiant Uzbeks fought hard—registering nine attempts of their own and even rattling the crossbar late on through Bekhruz Karimov—Colombia’s superior pedigree ultimately won out.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Cucho Hernandez won a desperate battle on the wing to cross for fellow sub Jaminton Campaz, who powered a clinical header home in the ninety-ninth minute to secure the three points.
