DR Congo earn historic first World Cup point in Portugal draw

Yoane Wissa's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out João Neves' early goal as DR Congo held Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a 1-1 draw, the first World Cup point and goal in the nation's history.

DR Congo walked into NRG Stadium in Houston as heavy underdogs and walked out with a point that means everything. The Leopards held Portugal to a 1-1 draw and scored the first World Cup goal in the nation's history, proof that a 52-year wait had not dulled their appetite.

Portugal made the start the favourites wanted. João Neves rose to meet a cross from the left and glanced his header home in the sixth minute, the young PSG midfielder marking his first World Cup appearance with the opening goal. For a spell Portugal passed the ball around with the calm of a side expecting a comfortable night.

That calm slowly drained away. DR Congo refused to sit deep and admire their opponents. They pressed in midfield, ran hard down the channels, and pushed Cédric Bakambu and his attacking partners high up the pitch. Portugal kept the ball, yet the chances dried up and the danger started flowing the other way.

The equaliser arrived at the cruellest possible moment. Deep into first-half stoppage time, in the 45th minute and beyond, Yoane Wissa struck to level the game. The Newcastle forward sent the Congolese bench and their travelling fans into wild celebration, and the half-time whistle blew seconds later with the score at 1-1.

Cristiano Ronaldo could not bend the second half to his will. The Portugal captain, now a veteran of his sixth World Cup campaign, dropped deeper looking for the ball and chased a winner that never came. Cristiano Ronaldo had his moments, but the Leopards threw bodies in front of every effort and held firm.

For an African debutant of this generation, one point against a top-five side is gold. DR Congo had not played at a World Cup since 1974, when they featured as Zaire, and many doubted they belonged here. They answered with organisation, courage and a goal that will be replayed for decades. Hii ndio maana tunaipenda mpira: this is exactly why we love football.

Group K is now wide open. Portugal sit alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan and DR Congo in a tight standing, and the dropped points mean the heavyweights must chase rather than cruise. Every fixture from here carries weight, and the Leopards have handed themselves a real platform to build on.

For fans in Nairobi who set the alarm for the late kickoff, this was the match to stay up for. A fellow African nation stood toe to toe with Ronaldo's Portugal and would not blink. For the wider continental read on the opening round, our Africa round-one verdict puts this Congolese point in its proper place.