Congo hold Portugal as Ronaldo’s World Cup opener ends in draw

TLE DESK: Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for another World Cup milestone got off to a frustrating start as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Congo in their opening Group K match on Wednesday.

The result marked a historic moment for Congo, who earned their first-ever World Cup point and scored their first goal at the tournament, 52 years after their only previous appearance when they competed as Zaire at the 1974 World Cup.

Portugal made a dream start at Houston’s NRG Stadium when midfielder João Neves headed home a cross from Pedro Neto in the sixth minute to put the European side ahead.

However, Congo struck back in first-half stoppage time through Yoane Wissa, who powered in a header from Arthur Masuaku’s cross to level the score and send the African side’s supporters into celebration.

“It means a lot for all Congolese people,” Wissa said after scoring his country’s first World Cup goal.

Despite dominating possession and creating several chances after the break, Portugal failed to find a winner. Ronaldo, appearing in a record-equalling sixth World Cup, missed two clear opportunities in the second half, while Bruno Fernandes also fired wide in the closing minutes.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez admitted his side struggled after conceding the equaliser.

“The goal changed things. We almost felt the fear of not losing the game,” he said.

Congo, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, impressed with their resilience and nearly completed a famous upset when Cedric Bakambu struck the post in the second half.

Coach Sebastien Desabre praised his players for overcoming significant challenges, including travel restrictions that prevented many Congolese supporters from attending the tournament in the United States.

“There was not enough blue in the stands, but the players showed great character,” he said.

The match also saw Ronaldo become the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup game. The 41-year-old forward joined Lionel Messi as the only footballers to feature in six World Cup tournaments.

Portugal thought they had regained the lead midway through the second half when Joao Cancelo found the net with an acrobatic bicycle kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The draw leaves both teams with a point from their opening match and keeps Group K finely balanced heading into the second round of fixtures.

For Congo, the result represented one of the country’s most memorable achievements on the international stage, while Portugal will be left searching for improvement after failing to convert their dominance into victory.