Portugal 1-1 Congo DR: CR7's side fails to seize 3 pts as Wissa & Neves score

In their World Cup Group K opener, Portugal and DR Congo played out a 1-1 draw at Houston Stadium, where João Neves' early header was canceled out by Yoane Wissa, while João Cancelo's second-half bicycle kick was ruled out for offside.

Match Report

Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal to salvage a shock 1-1 draw with Portugal in their World Cup opener in Houston Stadium.

Joao Neves had given Portugal a sixth-minute lead, but they struggled to build on that as Wissa levelled on the stroke of half-time to share the points in Group K.

Portugal made a dream start with Pedro Neto lifting a lovely cross into the box from the left, and Neves rose highest to head across goal and in, dedicating his opener to Diogo Jota.

DR Congo attempted to immediately fight back, with Wissa drilling a low shot wide, while Edo Kayembe's bouncing shot was easily held by Diogo Costa shortly after the half-hour mark.

Though Portugal dominated possession, DR Congo scored the next goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time. After a short corner, Arthur Masuaku whipped a delightful cross into the crowd at the back post, and the unmarked Wissa thumped his header into the roof of the net with the last touch of the half to create history.

Portugal thought they had retaken the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Neves chested down another Bruno Fernandes cross, but Joao Cancelo had drifted offside before his overhead kick hit the back of the net.

Moments later at the other end, Cedric Bakambu pushed his way onto a loose ball to fire against the near post from the right of the box, but he was penalised for a foul in the build-up.

Cristiano Ronaldo poked two half-efforts wide of the post as he fell short of another record, and Bakambu fired wide, but neither side could find one last crucial opening to grab a winner.

Wissa's goal rains on Ronaldo's historic parade

All the talk in the build-up to the game was about Ronaldo becoming just the second player to appear at six different World Cups, following in Lionel Messi's footsteps.

He could not find the cutting edge needed to become the first player to score in six World Cups, but at 41 years and 132 days, he did become the oldest outfield player to start a match in the tournament's history.

While all eyes were on the veteran, it was one of his younger counterparts who got things going. At 21y 263d, Neves became the third-youngest Portuguese scorer at a World Cup, behind Ronaldo (21y 132d in 2006) and Goncalo Ramos (21y 169d in 2022).

DR Congo, though, ensured they ended a long, long wait for their first World Cup goal, in their first appearance in 52 years (as Zaire). Wissa's goal came from their 32nd attempt.

Sebastien Desabre's side will feel slightly hard done by, having eight shots worth 0.82 expected goals (xG), while Portugal managed just seven worth 0.64 xG at the other end in a disappointing opening for one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Line-ups

Portugal XI: Ronaldo, Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Costa, Pedro Neto, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Tomás Araújo, João Neves, Renato Veiga

Subs: Rui Silva, Semedo, Jose Sa, Guedes, Neves, Ruben Dias, Dalot, Francisco Trincão, Felix, Leao, Matheus Nunes, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Ramos, Samú Costa, Gonçalo Inácio

Congo DR XI: Bakambu, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, Mbemba, Masuaku, Yoane Wissa, Moutoussamy, Tuanzebe, Wan-Bissaka, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Ngal'ayel Mukau

Subs: Kakuta, Théo Bongonda, Kayembe, Dylan Batubinsika, Aaron Tshibola, Gédéon Kalulu, Simon Banza, Charles Pickel, Meschack Elia, Nathanaël Mbuku, Timothy Fayulu, Fiston Mayele, Brian Cipenga, Matthieu Epolo, Noah Sadik