Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to mark his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance with victory fell flat as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the DR Congo on Wednesday.
Joao Neves gave the Europeans an early lead before Yoane Wissa’s historic strike earned the Congolese their first-ever goal and point at the finals. Here are five key talking points from the Group K encounter.
1. DR Congo’s long-awaited return delivered history
Playing at their first World Cup since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire, DR Congo announced their return in impressive fashion. Wissa’s equaliser secured not only their first point but also their first goal on football’s biggest stage, capping a memorable night for the African nation.
2. Ronaldo’s milestone night lacked magic
The 41-year-old matched the record for most World Cup appearances with six, but endured a frustrating evening. Unlike Lionel Messi, who stole the headlines with a hat-trick for Argentina a day earlier, Ronaldo struggled to influence proceedings and squandered two late opportunities.
3. Portugal’s finishing problem resurfaced
Despite dominating possession and scoring inside six minutes through Joao Neves, Portugal failed to put the game beyond their opponents. Joao Cancelo had a goal ruled out for offside and several promising attacks went unfinished, leaving Roberto Martinez’s side to regret missed chances.
4. Wissa and Bakambu showed DR Congo can compete
Newcastle United forward Wissa made history with his equaliser, while veteran striker Cedric Bakambu came close to producing an even bigger upset when his effort struck the post. Their display showed that DR Congo were not merely defending but were capable of troubling one of Europe’s strongest teams.
5. Adversity did not derail the Congolese
DR Congo arrived at the tournament after preparations had been disrupted by the Ebola outbreak back home. Yet they produced a disciplined and spirited performance to earn a deserved result, suggesting they could emerge as one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
