KINSHASA, Congo (Interstat) — Congo DR and Uzbekistan will meet Saturday in a World Cup group-stage match at Stade des Martyrs, both seeking their first win of the tournament after lopsided losses on Matchday 2. The teams enter the June 27 fixture with identical 0-1-1 records, making this a must-win for any hope of advancing. Congo DR fell 1-0 to Colombia on Tuesday, June 23, while Uzbekistan lost 5-0 to Portugal the same day. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw. Congo DR’s campaign opened with a 1-1 draw against Portugal on June 17, with the Leopards showing defensive resilience before collapsing late against Colombia. In qualifying, they beat South Sudan 4-1 and lost 3-2 to Senegal, suggesting an ability to score but also vulnerability at the back. Coach Sébastien Desabre will likely rely on captain Chancel Mbemba to anchor a defense that conceded five goals in two World Cup matches. Uzbekistan, playing its first World Cup since independence, has struggled offensively. After a scoreless draw with the United Arab Emirates and a 3-0 win over Qatar in earlier qualifiers, the White Wolves lost 3-1 to Colombia before the Portugal rout. Coach Srečko Katanec must find a way to generate chances against a Congo DR side that, while leaky, has shown it can hold Portugal to a draw. The match carries extra weight: a draw would leave both teams with two points and slim hopes, while a win could vault the victor into contention for second place behind likely group leaders Portugal. Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov, their top scorer in qualifying, has been quiet so far. Congo DR’s Cédric Bakambu will look to exploit gaps in an Uzbek defense that conceded eight goals in two games. Kickoff is 6 p.m. local time. The referee panel will be announced Friday. Both teams trained Thursday in Kinshasa, with no injury reports issued.