Yoane Wissa lined up in the starting eleven for DR Congo against Uzbekistan in the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time).
The Newcastle United striker the hero in the opening group game for his country, as he scored DR Congo’s first ever goal at a World Cup finals and secured a deserved 1-1 draw against a stunned Portugal side.
Then up against Colombia in Guadalajara, a match where Yoane Wissa spent the vast majority of time defending against the team that would end up topping the group.
DR Congo a little unlucky when a heavily deflected Munoz shot won the match for Colombia with only 14 minutes remaining.
The first two rounds of matches created a position whereby DR Congo knew that a win would guarantee them progress to the last 32 but anything less than that would guarantee their exit. A positive though was that with only a victory giving Uzbekistan any chance of progressing, their opponents couldn’t just sit back and defend.
Disaster inside ten minutes though as Uzbekistan took the lead through Shomurodov and indeed they were the better team in that first half. DR Congo were though unlucky when an equaliser was denied due to the VAR claiming a foul in DR Congo’s own half in the build up to that disallowed goal.
Half-time and a mountain to climb for DR Congo, needing at least two goals if they were to progress.
With the clock ticking down and the second half advertising (hydration) break due, DR Congo were building up so much pressure. Then the ball played into the box and clever movement by Yoane Wissa saw Man City defender Khusanov trip the Newcastle United striker.
A clear penalty and Yoane Wissa stepped up to coolly slot the spot-kick home.
An absolute disgrace as then the advertising break immediately blown for and any chance of instantly using that equaliser for momentum was denied.
Play eventually restarts and now DR Congo the more dominant team in a very open game with both teams going for it.
On 78 minutes DR Congo in the lead as Mayele supplied a close in finish and now it is theirs to lose.
Nerves as the game ticked towards its conclusion, just into added time Yoane Wissa gets the ball in what looked a non-threatening situation at the far side of the penalty area. Instead of trying to waste time, the Newcastle United striker heads away from goal but then swivels and hits a wonder 20+yard shot low and curling around defenders and goalkeeper to spark the celebrations.
Man of the match Yoane Wissa and DR Congo have qualified for the last 32 and will play England!
If you want to go straight to the key Yoane Wissa moments in the highlights below, he wins the penalty at 4.54, scores the penalty at 5.20 and then makes it 3-1 at 6.45.
It is a first ever win at a World Cup finals for DR Congo, their first ever progress to the knockout stages, plus they have scored their first ever goals at a finals and Yoane Wissa has scored three of the four.