Portugal 1-1 DR Congo: Historic Wissa header earns first World Cup point | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Standings provided bySofascore

The Democratic Republic of Congo held out against all odds for a historic 1-1 draw with favourites Portugal to earn a first ever point at the World Cup finals on their return after more than half a century at the Houston Stadium.

João Neves took just five minutes to head his team in front only for Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa to rise to the challenge and equalize with a header of his own for his ninth international goal Congo’s first at the tournament in 52 years.

Portugal dialed up the pressure as Joao Cancelo’s overhead effort was ruled out and Cristiano Ronaldo fired wide two good chances inside the penalty area, but failed to win their opening group game for the first time since 2018 in a timeless day for Congo.

As it happened

DR Congo’s game plan was compromised in no time when Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Neves connected with Pedro Neto’s cross in from the left wing and sent an accurate header into the bottom right corner.

An air of excitement could be audibly heard around the stadium as cheers sounded whenever Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball, but he was without a sight of goal as strike partners Wissa and Cédric Bakambu both missed half-chances.

The African side didn’t capitulate and intended to press Portugal high up the pitch, but the threat of a second was a constant whenever Neves and Fernandes exchanged intricate passes on the edge of the opposition penalty area.

Most of Congo’s attempts on goal came from distance and they struggled to make many inroads into the final third, as many fans might’ve expected, with two long-range efforts from Sami Moutoussamy no trouble for Diego Costa.

But his last of the half deflected behind for a corner and from the short routine Wissa rose completely unmarked to head Arthur Matsuaku’s cross past the goalkeeper on debut at the World Cup, delivering a moment of history.

Joao Cancelo had an acrobatic overhead finish in the six yard box ruled out as Neves had chested it down for the wing-back who had strayed offside, shortly before Bakambu hit the post from point blank range despite fouling Bruno Fernandes.

Regular time had started ticking away and Ronaldo sent two low crosses in from the right wing around the post and wide, not long after Roberto Martínez animatedly tried to get his team going again during the second hydration break.

Bakambu had another chance on the edge of the box but side-footed his powerful strike wide of goal, as DR Congo showed much bravery and ambition not to bank on Portugal wasting their last few chances of the match.

Martínez saw no choice but to bring AC Milan winger Rafael Leao off the bench, but this was to minimal effect as Congo battled on through the five added minutes for a first ever draw at the World Cup in the latest shock of the tournament.

Analysis: Congo hold out for history over half a century in the making

We have yet another moment of World Cup history. DR Congo last participated at the finals in 1974, back when the nation was known by an entirely different name.

It was the year that Zaire, as the country of Congo was once called, that played host to the Rumble in the Jungle boxing match, where the greatest of all time Muhammed Ali regained the heavyweight title.

The national team would also finish bottom of their group on debut at the World Cup, losing all three of their matches – including a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Yugoslavia – without scoring a single goal.

Congo entered the ring with a footballing heavyweight this evening, in a Portugal side with 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo continuing to defy science, and they held out against expectations for a historic first ever point after an absence of 52 years.

One could say Portugal’s defending gifted Yoane Wissa the moment he’d dreamt of, but without the grit and resilience on show from the African side there may not have been a point to celebrate come full time.

Congo’s back five and midfield three operated in unison protecting the penalty area, giving one of the world’s greatest players of all time little room to operate as Portugal’s number nine – firing wide his best two chances while being closely monitored by Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, or Steve Kapuadi.

It certainly wasn’t pretty at times and Congo’s day could have been made even better if they were the slightest bit more clinical up front, but the country is unlikely to have any complaints and will be celebrating through the night back home.

Portugal – DR Congo Live Score