Yoane Wissa’s equalizer canceled out Joao Neves’ early strike as DR Congo held favorites Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup opening match.
Portugal’s World Cup campaign began with a frustrating bump as a resilient DR Congo fought back to claim a dramatic 1-1 draw in Group K.
Roberto Martinez’s men looked primed for a commanding night when Joao Neves headed home an early opener just six minutes into the match. Dictating the tempo, the European heavyweights pressed for a second but struggled to break down a compact Congolese backline.
Instead, the Leopards bit back. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Yoane Wissa found space to nod in a shock equalizer, turning the game on its head.
Despite a second-half onslaught featuring disallowed goals and late pressure from Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal failed to find a winner. DR Congo’s disciplined defense held firm, leaving the tournament favorites with unexpected work to do.
The result leaves Portugal with work to do in Group K, while DR Congo can take great confidence from a hard-earned point against one of the strongest sides in the competition.