Portugal Held to 1-1 Draw by DR Congo in World Cup Group K Opener

Portugal opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo on Wednesday at Houston Stadium in a Group K match that defied expectations. Joao Neves gave Portugal an early advantage, heading home from a corner in the sixth minute to send Portuguese supporters into celebration. However, the European side's failure to build on their lead proved costly when Yoane Wissa powered in an equalizing header in the 45th minute of first-half stoppage time, dramatically shifting momentum in DR Congo's favor.

Portugal dominated possession for much of the match and created multiple scoring opportunities, yet struggled with conversion. Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old veteran, played all 90 minutes but delivered a subdued performance, managing only three shot attempts with none on target. The Portuguese midfield, featuring Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, controlled the tempo effectively, but the team's attacking approach became increasingly conservative after scoring the opening goal. DR Congo, conversely, proved dangerous on the counterattack and organized a compact defensive structure that proved difficult for Portugal to penetrate in the second half.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez defended his team's performance and dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo should be substituted in future tight matches. "It makes no sense to take out the best goalscorer in world football in a match where you need goals," Martinez said. He identified the root problem as a loss of attacking intensity after Portugal's early goal, with the team shifting focus to possession rather than pursuing a second objective. "We started very well, controlled the game and entered the final third effectively," he explained. "But after scoring, instead of pushing for a second goal, we became more focused on possession. That reduced our depth and gave DR Congo space to counterattack."

The result leaves Group K wide open, with both teams to play their remaining matches. DR Congo, competing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, achieved a historic point and became the second African team to earn a strong result against European opposition early in the tournament, following Cabo Verde's goalless draw with Spain. DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre expressed pride in his team's resilience. Portugal will face Uzbekistan on June 23, while DR Congo plays Colombia on June 24. The draw underscores that early setbacks do not define a team's trajectory at the tournament, as Martinez emphasized.