Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
DR Congo made a notable return to the World Cup by holding a star-studded Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K match at the Houston Stadium on Wednesday.
Playing on the global stage for the first time since 1974, the Leopards found themselves behind early on but did not allow the setback to affect their game-plan, as they struck back via Yoane Wissa just before half time to secure a deserved draw against the Seleção.
Portugal dominated the early stages and claimed the lead in the sixth minute, with Joao Neves meeting Pedro Neto’s cross from the left and sending a header beyond the reach of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.
DR Congo responded well to the early blow and although they had far less possession through the rest of the first half, they arguably had the more promising attacking moments, most notably through efforts from Wissa, Cedric Bakambu and Edo Kayembe.
The Leopards built up a head of steam toward the end of the first half and were rewarded in injury time when Wissa was left unmarked to head home from Arthur Masuaku’s in-swinging cross from the right, making it 1-1 at the interval. It was the Leopards’ first-ever goal at a World Cup.
Portugal looked to spark their attack back to life at the start of the second half by introducing Francisco Conceicao. The Europeans found the back of the net in spectacular style in the 55th minute when Joao Cancelo struck home with an overhead kick, but he was correctly ruled offside.
DRC almost had a second goal two minutes later when Bakambu stole possession off Bruno Fernandes in the Portuguese penalty area and struck the post from a tight angle – though the forward was adjudged to have committed a foul in winning the ball.
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo had been exceptionally quiet for the first 69 minutes, but he had half-chances – both created by Conceicao – either side of the cooling break which he failed to find the target with.
Fernandes was another who underwhelmed in the match, with the Manchester United playmaker summing up his showing by dragging a shot wide of the mark just before injury time.
Ultimately the game ended all square, with DRC registering their first point in World Cup history.
The teams will resume their Group K campaigns next week, with Portugal facing Uzbekistan in Houston on the evening of Tuesday 23 June (18:00), while DRC will take on Colombia in Guadalajara the following morning (03:00).
Portugal (1) 1 (J. Neves 6’)
DR Congo (1) 1 (Y. Wissa 45+5’)
Portugal: D. Costa, J. Cancelo, T. Araujo, R. Veiga, N. Mendes (N. Semedo 72’), J. Neves, Vitinha (G. Ramos 83’), B. Silva (F. Conceicao 46’), B. Fernandes, P. Neto (R. Leao 72’), C. Ronaldo
DRC: L. Mpasi-Nzau, A. Wan Bissaka (G. Kalulu 85’), C. Mbemba, A. Tuanzebe, S. Kapuadi, A. Masuaku (J. Kayembe 74’), N. Mukau (N. Sadiki 57’), S. Moutoussamy, E. Kayembe (C. Pickel 74’), C. Bakambu (S. Banza 85’), Y. Wissa
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