Fans gathered in Houston to witness Cristiano Ronaldo, hoping for a performance that matched Lionel Messi’s mesmerizing display the previous night. Despite their fervent support, it was the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that emerged as the deserving heroes of the match, managing to recover from an early deficit to secure a historic draw, thanks to Yoane Wissa’s equalizer followed by a display of disciplined defense.
Coach Roberto Martínez kept Ronaldo on the field for the entirety of the match, but aside from a couple of half-chances in the second half, the star forward’s influence was minimal, raising doubts about whether his presence is more burden than benefit.
The excitement in the stadium was palpable when Ronaldo first touched the ball two minutes in, thrilling fans with a sideways pass to João Cancelo. This moment underscored the anticipation surrounding the iconic player, even as those traveling to the venue faced challenges navigating flooded roads due to the morning’s heavy rain.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was present, having facilitated Ronaldo’s eligibility by lifting part of his suspension for the match. The crowd, predominantly clad in red and many sporting the number seven, erupted when João Neves found the net with a powerful header after connecting with Pedro Neto’s cross, leaving the DRC goalkeeper, Lionel Mpassi, helpless.
This was precisely the start the DRC had dreaded. With only small pockets of expatriate supporters due to a 21-day Ebola quarantine for travelers from their homeland, the team had prepared in isolation in Belgium before arriving in Houston, where they were welcomed warmly last week.
After Neves’s early goal, the DRC began to show signs of life, with Wissa narrowly missing a shot and Cédric Bakambu having a strike deflected. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated, especially after Bernardo Silva received a yellow card, leading to boos from the crowd when the referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim’s decision was displayed on the big screen.
Nuno Mendes had a chance to extend Portugal’s lead, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a crucial intervention. While Portugal maintained control of the match, Ronaldo briefly found his rhythm when Cancelo’s cross was slightly misplaced. Wan-Bissaka continued to thwart Mendes’s attempts, and although the DRC’s defense was pressured, they held firm.
Unlike their previous World Cup appearance in 1974, when they were known as Zaire, the DRC showed resilience. As the first half drew to a close, they found themselves with renewed hope. A shot by Samuel Moutoussamy led to a couple of corners, and from the second, Arthur Masuaku delivered a precise ball to Wissa, who expertly headed it into the roof of the net, igniting celebrations along the touchline.
Portugal’s relaxed pace allowed the DRC to gain confidence. Early in the second half, Costa had to make a save against Bakambu’s angled attempt, prompting Martínez to urge his players to regain focus after substituting Francisco Conceição for Bernardo Silva.
They were momentarily energized by the DRC taking too long for a goal kick, which resulted in a corner, but it yielded no results. An acrobatic attempt from Conceição was ruled offside, and Portugal struggled to break down the DRC defense effectively.
When a chance finally came for Ronaldo, Conceição’s cutback was slightly behind him, leading to a rushed shot that went wide. This sequence was repeated shortly after the hydration break, much to the dismay of the crowd yearning for a Ronaldo goal.
As the pressure mounted, Portugal sensed fatigue in the DRC ranks and attempted to capitalize. Bakambu squandered a promising counterattack, and Martínez made another substitution, bringing on Gonçalo Ramos for Vitinha instead of Ronaldo. A speculative shot from Bruno Fernandes was the closest Portugal came to snatching a victory.
