Jakarta Aktual – 18 June 2026 | The FIFA World Cup has kicked off, and Colombia has made a strong start with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, thanks in large part to the impressive performance of Lucho Diaz. The Colombian team, led by coach Nestor Lorenzo, showed their dominance from the start, with Diaz being a key player in their attack. Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, put up a good fight but ultimately fell short against the more experienced Colombian side.
Colombia had early chances through Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan’s defense held strong. However, Lucho Diaz had the clearest chance of the first half when he struck the post, and it seemed only a matter of time before Colombia would break through. That moment came in the 40th minute when Diaz gathered the ball after an attack had broken down and clipped a fine pass into the path of Daniel Munoz, who guided home a neat finish for his third international goal.
Uzbekistan improved after the break and equalized on the hour with their country’s first World Cup goal. Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomurodov, whose shot from the right side of the box was saved low by Camilo Vargas. The goalkeeper could not hold it, however, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodded in the rebound from close range. The joy was short-lived, as Gustavo Puerta released Lucho Diaz in the 65th minute, and the forward side-footed across goal to restore Colombia’s lead.
Colombia had the final word, with Jaminton Campaz scoring at the death to settle a contest in which Nestor Lorenzo’s side had 15 attempts to Uzbekistan’s nine. Lucho Diaz was instrumental in Colombia’s victory, contributing a goal and an assist. He told reporters, ‘I worked and fought for this. I am living out my childhood dream of playing in a World Cup with my national team, and it’s even better to have contributed a goal and an assist.’ Diaz’s performance has made him a standout player in the tournament so far, and Colombia will be looking to him to continue his form in their upcoming matches.
Uzbekistan, despite the loss, can take heart from their spirited performance. They showed that they are not just making up the numbers in the World Cup and can cause problems for their opponents. Fabio Cannavaro, the Uzbekistan coach, will be looking to build on this performance and push his team to get their first World Cup win. The match was also notable for being Cannavaro’s first World Cup match as a coach, 20 years after he lifted the trophy as a player.
In conclusion, Colombia’s victory over Uzbekistan was a testament to their strength and experience. Lucho Diaz was the star of the show, and his performance will be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament so far. As the World Cup continues, Colombia will be looking to build on this win and make a deep run in the tournament. With Lucho Diaz in their side, they have a good chance of doing just that.
