Luis Diaz logs goal, assist in Cup debut as Colombia beat Uzbekistan

Published: Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 4:29 am

Luis Diaz made an immediate impact in his World Cup debut, spearheading Colombia to a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in their opening match. The Bayern Munich forward, aged 29, not only scored the decisive goal in the 65th minute but also provided an assist, setting up Daniel Munoz for a spectacular volley in the 40th minute. This performance places Colombia at the top of Group K, following an earlier draw between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The match saw Colombia take an early lead through Munoz's impressive strike. Diaz delivered a precise diagonal pass into the box, which Munoz met with a first-time volley, beating the Uzbekistan goalkeeper. Uzbekistan managed to equalize in the 60th minute when Abbosbek Fayzullaev capitalized on a rebound following a save by Colombia's goalkeeper Camilo Vargas. However, the tie was short-lived.

Colombia quickly regained their advantage five minutes later. A turnover initiated by Colombian pressure led to a swift counter-attack. Gustavo Puerta advanced and passed to Diaz in the penalty area, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper for his team's second goal. The victory was further sealed in second-half stoppage time by Jaminton Campaz, who scored from a cross by Cucho Hernandez, much to the delight of the predominantly Colombian crowd.

This debut marks a significant moment for Diaz, who had not previously featured in a World Cup. His career trajectory saw him playing in the Colombian second tier during the 2018 tournament, and Colombia failed to qualify for the 2022 edition. However, after leading his nation with seven goals in the 2026 qualifying campaign, Diaz proved to be Colombia's most crucial player on Wednesday, even with the presence of captain James Rodriguez. Colombia's dominance was evident in their statistical advantage, outshooting Uzbekistan 15-9 and holding a 4-3 edge in shots on target.

BNN's Perspective: Luis Diaz's stellar World Cup debut underscores the importance of individual brilliance in international football. His ability to deliver under pressure, both scoring and creating, highlights his growth as a player and his vital role for the Colombian national team. While Uzbekistan showed flashes of promise in their own debut, Colombia's experience and attacking prowess ultimately proved decisive. This victory sets a positive tone for Colombia's campaign, demonstrating their potential to compete at the highest level.

Tags: Luis Diaz, Colombia, Uzbekistan, World Cup debut, goal, assist, Daniel Munoz, Jaminton Campaz, Cucho Hernandez, Gustavo Puerta, Camilo Vargas, Dostonbek Khamdamov, Eldor Shomurodov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Utkir Yusupov, Group K, Portugal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bayern Munich, James Rodriguez

Full Story