It would be a bit of a stretch to call it a home away from home, but Guadalajara will always hold good memories for DR Congo.
It was in the capital of the Jalisco region that they sealed qualification for this World Cup, back in March. Not many of their fans were there to see them beat Jamaica; there were many more on Tuesday night, including Lumumba Vea, their most famous fan and symbol.
The sight of his statue routine in the stands only added to the emotional punch of the night.
This was not the best display from Sebastien Desabre’s men. They started sloppily, and it took them an age to play themselves into the match. Nor did they look solid defensively, as they had in the 1-1 draw with Portugal.
What they did do was fight. At no point did they look like winning the game but they hung on in there, absorbing Colombia’s punches. For the second time in three months, they covered every blade of grass in the Estadio Akron.
It took a deflected goal to break their brave resistance.
The defeat leaves them third in Group K, with only one point to their name. Yet all is not lost. They have played their two hardest games.
Beat Uzbekistan next, and they will very likely make it through to the knockout stages. Their return to this city ended in frustration, but further exploits and further connections beckon.
