Portugal Draw with Congo 1-1 in World Cup Opener

Portugal drew 1-1 with Congo in their World Cup opener on Wednesday in Houston, a disappointing result for Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates. Joao Neves gave Portugal the lead in the sixth minute with a header from a cross by Pedro Neto, but Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo with a header in stoppage time of the first half, scoring Congo's first-ever goal in World Cup history.

Congo's return to the World Cup marked their first appearance in 52 years, since competing as Zaire in 1974. The African nation became only the second African team to secure a draw against a European powerhouse in this tournament, following Cape Verde's 0-0 tie with Spain. The match drew 68,777 spectators at NRG Stadium in Houston, mostly Portugal supporters. Despite the setback, Congo's goalkeeper and team showed resilience against a stronger opponent. Coach Sébastien Desabre praised his players' mental toughness, noting that few Congolese fans could travel to the United States due to Ebola-related restrictions.

Portugal's coach Roberto Martínez defended the result by contextualizing it within World Cup history, citing examples such as Argentina's loss to Saudi Arabia in 2022 before winning the tournament and Spain's defeat to Switzerland in 2010 before claiming the title. He emphasized that such surprises are part of the competition's nature.

Cristiano Ronaldo, now tied with Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six World Cups, missed scoring opportunities in the 68th and 73rd minutes. Ronaldo also became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, surpassing the record previously held by Canada's Atiba Hutchinson from four years ago. Despite the setback, Martínez indicated that Ronaldo would remain in the team for their next match in six days, emphasizing his value when goals are needed.

Wissa expressed the emotional significance of Congo's goal after such a long absence from the tournament. Congo's previous three World Cup appearances in 1974 resulted in three losses without scoring. The team's performance demonstrated that upsets remain possible in international football, even against more established nations.