Portugal were forced to share the points with Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup Group K opener in Houston, a 1-1 draw that will sting more than it should have. Cristiano Ronaldo missed two good chances late on as Joao Neves’ early header was cancelled out by a stoppage time equaliser. It was not the start one of the tournament favourites would have wanted.
Neves header undone by late drama
Portugal could not have asked for a better opening. Inside six minutes Pedro Neto whipped in a cross from the right and Joao Neves rose highest to head home from 15 metres. It had all the makings of a routine afternoon for the pre-tournament favourites.
That goal, though, turned out to be as good as it got in front of goal for Portugal. It was their only effort on target in the entire match, a number that says a lot about how the game tightened up once the early breakthrough settled in.
DR Congo did not let the setback faze them. They grew steadily into the contest as the half progressed and got their reward deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half. A corner swung in from the left found Yoane Wissa completely unmarked at the back post, and he made no mistake heading past the Portugal goalkeeper to send the bench into wild celebrations.
A historic return for the Congolese
Reaching this World Cup is already a landmark for DR Congo, who are appearing at the tournament for the first time since 1974. Taking a point off one of the favourites in their first game back on this stage will only add to what is already a special occasion for the squad.
For Ronaldo, this World Cup carries its own weight of history. He is now at his sixth World Cup, a record he shares with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Few forwards are still leading the line for their country at this stage of their careers, and he showed flashes of that old instinct, getting in behind twice in the second half from close range. Both efforts went wide, leaving Portugal fans to wonder what might have been had either found the net.
Group K thrown wide open
A result like this changes the picture in Group K straight away. Portugal arrived expected to win the section with something to spare, and dropping points to a side playing in their first World Cup in over fifty years hands an opening to everyone else in the group.
It was not a backs to the wall performance from DR Congo either. Cedric Bakambu struck the post for them in the second half, a reminder that they pushed for a winner of their own and could easily have taken all three points rather than settling for one.
For Portugal, the bigger worry will be efficiency. Managing just a single shot on target across the whole game is not what was expected from a squad with this much attacking quality, Ronaldo included. Games at this level are not won on reputation alone.
What comes next for both sides
Portugal now find themselves needing to make up ground if they want to top Group K, and another stumble would start to complicate their path through the tournament. DR Congo head into their remaining group games with genuine belief, having shown they can stand toe to toe with one of the bigger names in the competition.
For Ronaldo, the wait for a World Cup goal at this tournament goes on. How Portugal respond from here, and whether changes are made further forward, will go a long way to defining the rest of their campaign in this competition.
