DR Congo Shocks Portugal with 1-1 Draw
- Forrest Wimberly
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Credit Fox Sports
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
With tropical storm Arthur outside stirring up the Houston atmosphere, the fans were packed in the closed-roof, climate-controlled Houston Stadium for the opening match of Group K in the 2026 FIFA World Cup between world powerhouse Portugal and relatively unknowns DR Congo. The match would feature goals by both teams in the first half and then would play to a 1-1 draw in a choppy, foul-filled second half.
The match began as expected with huge roars of excitement with every move by Portugal and DR Congo packing their defensive third with 10 men behind the ball in their 1-5-3-2 defensive formation. That strategy didn’t pay off for the Leopards as Portugal’s Joao Neves (PSG) headed in a driven cross from the left flank to put the Navigators ahead in the 6th minute. The Portuguese were a step faster, a play ahead, and on the front foot dictating the tempo of the match to their opponents making their first World Cup appearance in 50 years (played as Zaire in 1974).
After this opening spell of play, the match settled into a clear pattern of Portugal enjoying the majority of possession while DR Congo was looking for counter attacks and any attacking scraps they could scrounge from a set piece. With all the talent in the starting XI and additional firepower waiting on the Portugal bench, the FIFA 5th ranked Navigators didn’t get in a huge hurry to press the issue before the half seemingly confident in their ability to slowly wear down the FIFA 45th ranked Leopards over the course of the 90 minutes. Portugal kept the slim lead at the half which seemed to be well withing the game plans for Head Coach Roberto Martinez as the match entered first half stoppage time.
DR Congo had other ideas about the halftime score and created a goal out of nothing in first-half stoppage time serving a hopeful ball from the right flank deep into the back post where an unmarked Yoana Wissa (Newcastle United) was there to head the ball just past the outstretched arms of Diego Costa (FC Porto) for the shock 1-1 score line at the half.
Portugal thought they had regained the lead in the 55th minute but the offside flag was raised correctly keeping the match knotted 1-1.
From this point, the match really settled into a stalemate with numerous fouls and stoppages as neither team was able to get a clear advantage and control of the match. Just before the hydration break, Portugal lulled the DR Congo defense to sleep with passes before finding a wide-open player just inside the area. A second square ball slipped to Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) brought the crowd to their feet, but CR7 got it all wrong and scuffed the shot off his standing leg as the ball dribbled harmlessly wide of the target.
On the other side of the hydration break, it was again CR7 shooting a square ball well wide of the target, but Coach Martinez applauded the action, sensing a breakthrough moment was just ahead for his side.
DR Congo sprang a textbook counter off a defensive corner kick creating a 5v5 fast break moment in the 78th minute that screamed wide and over the bar in the best chance of the half for the Leopards.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) had a hopeful shot from outside the box run wide of the near post in the 90th minute as he tried to grab the victory with the half chance as the match entered second-half stoppage time. Neither team could find the decisive goal in stoppage time and the match ended 1-1 in what feels like a massive result for DR Congo in their quest for the knockout rounds.
DR Congo plays Columbia in Guadalajara in their next match while Portugal plays Uzbekistan in Houston in their next match. Both games are set for June 23.
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