News Focus
- Portugal drop points in World Cup opener against DR Congo
- Joao Neves heads Portugal into an early lead after six minutes
- Yoane Wissa scores historic equaliser for DR Congo before half-time
- Cristiano Ronaldo misses two simple chances to win the match
- Portugal register only one shot on target during the entire game
Portugal began their FIFA World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo at the NRG Stadium in Houston. A crowd of 68,777 fans watched the Group K clash.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the match but failed to find the net. The experienced forward wasted two excellent opportunities to secure a victory for his country. His goalless run at major tournaments has now extended to ten consecutive matches.
Joao Neves gave Portugal an early advantage. The midfielder scored with a clever header inside the opening six minutes. However, this proved to be Portugal’s only shot on target throughout the entire ninety minutes.
DR Congo showed great resilience in their first World Cup appearance since 1974. The African side equalised during added time at the end of the first half. Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa scored the goal, earning a famous point for his nation.
Ronaldo’s performance raises serious questions about his role in the squad. He only touched the ball twenty-nine times during the full match. Manager Roberto Martinez kept him on the pitch until the final whistle, but teammates struggled to link up with him effectively. Bernardo Silva had even fewer touches than Ronaldo before being substituted at half-time.
The display came one day after other global stars delivered outstanding performances. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina, while both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe netted twice for their respective countries. Ronaldo’s quiet showing stood in sharp contrast to these rivals.
Martinez must now decide whether Ronaldo deserves a starting place against Uzbekistan in the next fixture. Portugal desperately need a win to strengthen their position in the group.