Yoane Wissa scored a goal in first-half stoppage time and the Democratic Republic of Congo pulled off a surprising 1-1 draw against Portugal in the opening World Cup game for each side to begin Group K play at Houston on Wednesday.
Portugal dominated possession but had just one shot on goal as DR Congo goaltender Lionel Mpasi finished without a save. It allowed DR Congo to earn a point in the country’s second-ever World Cup appearance and first since 1974 when it was known as Zaire.
DR Congo’s draw was one of the more stunning results of early World Cup action, alongside the 0-0 draw Cape Verde orchestrated in their World Cup debut against a tournament favorite in Spain on Monday.
Joao Neves scored an early goal for Portugal, which owned possession for 60% of the match and completed 791 passes to 263 for DR Congo and yet were unable to secure the victory.
Due to the draw, Portugal fell two spots to seventh in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings. DR Congo rose three spots to No. 43 with the result. Colombia or Uzbekistan can move atop the Group K table should either side win their opening match Wednesday night in Mexico City.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo tied Lionel Messi of Argentina by appearing in his sixth career World Cup. Messi set the mark when he played in his squad’s opener Tuesday, scoring three goals in the process.
Ronaldo took three shots but was unable to make the impact that some of the world’s stars achieved during a dynamic Tuesday of action. In addition to Messi’s hat trick in an Argentina victory, Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe each scored a pair of goals in wins.
Portugal took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute when Pedro Neto sent in a cross and Neves headed it into the goal between a pair of DR Congo defenders.
DR Congo’s equalizer came just before halftime when Arthur Masuaka lobbed a ball into the box and Wissa drilled home a header in traffic for his country’s first ever World Cup goal after they were outscored 14-0 in their first World Cup appearance.
Despite holding possession for just 32% of the match, DR Congo did have an 8-7 advantage in total shots as well as a 2-1 edge in shots on target.
–Field Level Media
