World Cup 2026 | Portugal 1 - 1 DR Congo
Was this another shock result, or did everyone underestimate one side here?
Portugal were held to a frustrating draw by an impressive DR Congo side in their opening World Cup match.
Author | Ed
Stadium | Houston Stadium
Midfielder Joao Neves headed them into an early lead after six minutes, but Roberto Martinez's side failed to turn their dominance of possession into meaningful chances.
They were punished in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time when Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa was left unmarked six yards out to head home Arthur Masuaku's cross, scoring DR Congo's first ever World Cup goal.
In their only previous appearance in 1974, when the country competed as Zaire, they lost all three matches with an aggregate score of 14-0.
READ MORE | How DR Congo qualified
But the side ranked 46th in the world look a far sterner proposition 52 years later and deserved their point, defending resolutely and posing a threat on the counter-attack.
Cedric Bakambu struck the post from close range, although the effort would not have counted as the referee had already blown for a foul, before later firing another chance wide.
Ronaldo didn’t quite match Messi
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo matched Argentina's Lionel Messi by appearing at a sixth World Cup finals, but the 41-year-old was forced to wait in his pursuit of becoming the first player to score at six different tournaments.
The Al-Nassr forward's best opportunities arrived midway through the second half when he twice met low cut-backs from substitute Francisco Conceicao, but sent both efforts narrowly wide.
For all their attacking talent, those were only Portugal's third and fourth shots of the game, with Neves' header from Pedro Neto's cross proving their only effort on target.
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