In a massive World Cup surprise, the underdog team DR Congo held football giants Portugal to a 1-1 draw last night in Houston.
Portugal started strong and took an early lead in the 6th minute. João Neves scored a clean header after receiving a precise cross from Pedro Neto. Even though Portugal is considered a top favorite to win the World Cup alongside France and Spain, they failed to score again or break through the Congolese defense for the rest of the match.
DR Congo fought back and scored their equalizer just before halftime, in the fifth minute of first-half injury time (50th minute). Yoane Wissa found the back of the net to make it 1-1. Neither team could score in the second half, sealing a historic and well-earned point for the African nation.
The match was highly frustrating for Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's all-time leading international goalscorer. The superstar, who has 147 goals for Portugal, had a quiet night and was completely shocked by DR Congo's disciplined defenders.
This unexpected draw highlights Portugal's ongoing struggles on the world stage. Despite winning the European Championship in 2016 and having a star-studded lineup, they often find the World Cup difficult. Their best-ever finish was third place 60 years ago in 1966, followed by a semifinal appearance in 2006.
DR Congo is participating in the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, making this tie a historic result against one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
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