Portugal vs Congo DR Result, stats & report
- Full Time
- Tomás Araújo92'
- Nélson Semedo88'
- 85'S. Banza on for C. Bakambu
- 85'G. Kalulu on for A. Wan-Bissaka
- Gonçalo Ramos on for Vitinha83'
- 74'J. Kayembe on for A. Masuaku
- 74'C. Pickel on for E. Kayembe
- Nélson Semedo on for Nuno Mendes72'
- Rafael Leão on for Pedro Neto71'
- 57'N. Sadiki on for N. Mukau
- Francisco Conceição on for Bernardo Silva46'
- Half Time
- 50'Y. Wissa
- 32'C. Mbemba
- Bernardo Silva13'
- João Neves6'
- Kick Off
-
1
João Neves1 - 2
Yoane Wissa1
- 1Cristiano Ronaldo3
- 2Bruno Fernandes2
- 3Cédric Bakambu2
- 1João Cancelo2
- 2Bruno Fernandes2
- 3Joris Kayembe2
Find the Portugal vs Congo DR result, stats and report here.
After 52 years away from the World Cup, DR Congo marked their long-awaited return to the tournament by drawing with Group K favourites Portugal in Houston.
Joao Neves had headed Portugal into an early lead, but Yoane Wissa’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time was enough to secure a point for the Leopards against the odds.
Portugal got off to a flying start, Joao Neves the man on the scoresheet as he headed home a delightful left-footed Pedro Neto cross inside six minutes.
DR Congo could’ve crumbled under the weight of the Portuguese attack, but instead came back into the game. Yoane Wissa flashed a left-footed effort just wide of the post after his original shot was blocked.
While Ronaldo struggled to find space in the box, DR Congo pushed forward on the counter-attack. Edo Kayembe was next to have an attempt but his long-range strike was deflected into the hands of Diogo Costa.
On the stroke of half-time, the Leopards scored a dramatic equaliser. Yoane Wissa, who has endured a torrid Premier League campaign with Newcastle, found himself free in the box to head home a deep cross from Arthur Masuaka to send the teams in level.
As the second-half began, Portugal began to turn the screw. Joao Cancelo briefly thought he’d restored his side’s lead with an acrobatic volley, only for the offside flag to deny him.
At the other end, Guela Doue had a powerful shot rebound back off the post – but the referee blew up for a foul in the build up.
Chances were few and far between for Ronaldo. His best chance of the game so far came on around the 68 minute mark as Vitinha pulled the ball back for him in the box, but the angle was an awkward one and the 41 year old forward could only dig the ball out from behind him and wide of the post.
A few minutes later, and a very similar chance came, but this time the pull-back from Francisco Conceicao was a better one and Ronaldo arguably should’ve done better, but again fired the ball wide of the right post.
But while Portugal pushed, DR Congo always carried a threat on the break. Cedric Bakumbu had a chance to finish off a fine move but his wayward shot flew high and wide.
The African side grew in confidence defensively as the game went on, forcing efforts from long-range including a left-footed Bruno Fernandes strike that was pulled just wide. Eventually they did enough to see out the game and frustrate Ronaldo and company to secure a famous point.
Read more:
