7M - Portugal 1-1 DR Congo: Spirited Leopards secure historic World Cup point to frustrate misfiring Selecao

Portugal’s World Cup credentials suffered an early reality check as a resilient Democratic Republic of Congo fought back to claim a memorable 1-1 draw in Houston.

Roberto Martinez's star-studded Seleção appeared on track for a routine afternoon when inside the opening six minutes, they sliced through the Congolese defense, allowing Neves to slot home a comprehensive opener. Yet, despite the dream start, Portugal uncharacteristically took their foot off the gas, lacking the necessary tempo and penetration to break down a well-drilled opposition.

As the first half crept deep into stoppage time, the tournament underdogs punished Portugal's complacency. In the fifth minute of added time, Yoane Wissa silenced the Portuguese support by turning home a dramatic equalizer, marking DR Congo's first-ever goal on the World Cup stage and sparking wild celebrations before the interval.

The second half was a story of rising frustration for the European giants. Martinez rung the changes from the bench in search of inspiration, and they thought they had restored their lead in spectacular fashion when Joao Cancelo executed a stunning overhead volley. However, the brilliant strike was swiftly chalked off after the linesman flagged Neves for offside in the buildup.

With veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo largely starved of quality service and marshaled expertly by the Congolese center-backs, DR Congo comfortably weathered a late aerial bombardment. Standing tall under pressure, Sébastien Desabre’s men held on to secure their first World Cup point in 52 years, leaving an disjointed Portugal side with plenty of tactical questions to answer ahead of their next fixture.