Portugal dominated for long stretches but were held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute DR Congo side in their Group K opener in Houston on 17 June, in a result that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s early upsets. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead, but Yoane Wissa’s stoppage-time header before the break earned the Leopards a remarkable point on their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Portugal made a blistering start. Neves rose highest from Pedro Neto’s lofted pass in the sixth minute to head past goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau, and from that point the Selecao controlled proceedings with roughly 75 per cent possession, playing some of the most fluid football seen at the tournament so far. A 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo led the line, with PSG talent fuelling a suffocating midfield that dictated the tempo throughout.
DR Congo were not without their moments in the first half. Wissa sent a header inches wide of the left post in the 11th minute after a pinpoint cross, and Cedric Bakambu had a mid-range effort blocked by the Portuguese defence shortly after. But Portugal’s grip on the game was firm, compressing space in transition and preventing the Congolese attacking pair from receiving the ball with any rhythm or incisiveness.
Against the run of play, Wissa broke Portuguese resistance with a magnificent header deep into first-half stoppage time to level the scores and send DR Congo into the break with a point that felt entirely against the script.
Portugal made changes at half-time, replacing Bernardo Silva with Francisco Conceicao. Rafael Leao came on for Neto and Nelson Semedo for Nuno Mendes in the 72nd minute, with Mendes having picked up a knock earlier in the second half.
The opportunities came but were not taken. A VAR review disallowed a Joao Cancelo goal for offside in the 55th minute. Ronaldo wasted a gilt-edged chance in the 69th minute, his shot creeping just past the right post after he controlled a pass inside the box, and he was denied again in the 74th minute when his effort was blocked. Bruno Fernandes came closest to a winner in the 91st minute, finding himself unmarked at the edge of the box after a cross, only to send his attempt wide of the right post.
Portugal pressed desperately in the closing stages but could not find a way through a DR Congo side that defended with organisation and belief. The draw leaves both teams with work to do in a competitive Group K also featuring Colombia and Uzbekistan.
