Wissa double fires DR Congo to first World Cup win and England showdown

STRIKER Yoane Wissa netted ⁠twice as the Democratic Republic of Congo reached the World Cup knockouts after fighting their way back from a halftime ⁠deficit to win 3-1 against Uzbekistan on Saturday and set up a last-32 meeting with England.

It was the first World ‌Cup win for the Congolese, returning to the tournament 52 years after a woeful debut in 1974.

A penalty from Wissa and an opportunist finish from substitute striker Fiston Mayele saw the Congolese turn around the score with two goals in the space of 10 second-half minutes before Wissa got his second a minute into stoppage time.

The victory ensured DR ​Congo finished third in Group K, behind Colombia and Portugal, and they will now stay ⁠in Atlanta and take on England on Wednesday.

The result ⁠condemned Uzbekistan to a third successive defeat at their first World Cup, which proved a disappointing outcome after they led for almost an hour ⁠of ‌the game.

Uzbek captain Eldor Shomurodov had put his side ahead early but they sat back in the second half and paid the price as DR Congo completed a thrilling turnaround.

And for all the scrutiny surrounding the World Cup’s expanded 48-team format, with the advantage its uneven scheduling may give sides playing later in the final round, Austria and Algeria offered a reminder of the sport’s unpredictability on Saturday.

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said he had “no words” to explain the chaos that unfolded in the dying seconds as their 3-3 draw capped a group stage both problematic in design and irresistible in drama.

They produced one of the most gripping encounters of the tournament so far, full of momentum swings and late heroics.

Austria led twice, but the North Africans fought back relentlessly.

When Riyad Mahrez fired home in the 93rd minute to make it 3-2, it appeared to be a goal that would give Algeria victory and eliminate Austria. But the Europeans struck again three minutes later, sending both into the round of 32.

Memories of the “Disgrace of Gijon” in 1982, when West Germany and Austria played out a mutually beneficial, uncompetitive match that eliminated Algeria, lingered in the build-up, but both coaches dismissed fears of a repeat.

“I’m extremely happy that at the end it was football that won, that prevailed. 3-3 as a score says it all,” said Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic.

A direct result of ⁠the 1982 match was FIFA changing rules to ensure the final matches in World Cup ​group stages are played simultaneously, though the new 48-team format may have reintroduced some asymmetry.

In the final round, some teams - including the Group J sides - took the field knowing what they needed to advance, while others, such as South Korea and Scotland, ended up eliminated days after playing without that clarity.

But there was no repeat of the infamous 1982 script in Kansas City. Instead, the North African side came within seconds of what might have felt like sporting revenge.

A third team, which had played a day earlier, ended up affected.

Iran, who would have progressed as one of the best third-placed teams with an Algeria victory, ended up eliminated. Austria advanced as Group J runners-up, while Algeria reached the round of 32 among the best third-placed teams. – REUTERS.