{"id":2634,"date":"2026-06-18T06:35:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T06:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2634"},"modified":"2026-06-18T06:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T06:35:32","slug":"cristiano-ronaldo-and-portugal-held-to-a-1-1-draw-by-congo-at-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2634","title":{"rendered":"Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal held to a 1-1 draw by Congo at the World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Congo on Wednesday in their opening match at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

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Congo, which was playing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, became the second African nation to make a strong start in the tournament against European competition following Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe World Cup is a tournament where this happens,\u201d said Portugal coach Roberto Mart\u00ednez, a Spaniard who coached Belgium to the semifinals at the 2018 tournament. \u201cAt times the performance is not up to the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playing in front of a crowd of 68,777 spectators at NRG Stadium, which was mostly filled with Portugal supporters, Congo earned its first point at the World Cup after losing all three of its previous matches.<\/p>\n

Many Congolese were prevented from traveling to the United States for this year’s tournament because of restrictions tied to Ebola.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was not enough blue in the stands, but the players are tough and they know how to overcome challenges,\u201d Congo coach S\u00e9bastien Desabre said. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure that many Congolese people are proud of their team today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jo\u00e3o Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the sixth minute. The 5-foot-7 midfielder headed in a cross from Pedro Neto.<\/p>\n

But Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo with a header in stoppage time at the end of the first half off a cross from Arthur Masuaku, delighting the small pockets of blue-clad fans. It was the first World Cup goal for Congo in its history.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d Wissa said. \u201cFifty-two years later we are here, we are back. It\u2019s been long, it\u2019s been difficult. So scoring that goal, it means a lot for all Congolese, for me, for my family, for the fans who showed up today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congo’s only other World Cup matches came at the 1974 tournament in West Germany, when the team was known as Zaire and lost to Scotland 2-0, Yugoslavia 9-0 and Brazil 3-0.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe goal changed things,\u201d Mart\u00ednez said. \u201cWe almost felt the fear of not losing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Portugal, it was the lack of goals that stood out. Ronaldo missed shots wide right in the 68th and 73rd minutes. He shook his head in disgust after both.<\/p>\n

Mart\u00ednez was asked if he considered taking out Ronaldo on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes no sense to get the best world scorer to be out when you need goals,\u201d the coach said. \u201cThe experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, taking the record set four years ago by Canada midfielder Atiba Hutchinson. Cameroon great Roger Milla is the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup match, coming on as a substitute at 42 years old during the 1994 World Cup.<\/p>\n

Ronaldo also joined Argentina captain Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo can move out of a tie with Messi, who had a hat trick on Tuesday, by becoming the first player to score in a sixth tournament if he does manage to get one into the net this year.<\/p>\n

Beside Ronaldo’s efforts, Bruno Fernandes had a chance to put Portugal ahead in the 90th minute but his shot also was wide right.<\/p>\n

Portugal looked to have taken the lead in the 55th minute on a bicycle kick by Jo\u00e3o Cancelo, but he was ruled offside.<\/p>\n

Soon after that, C\u00e9dric Bakambu\u2019s attempt to put Congo in front failed when his shot bounced off the near post.<\/p>\n

The parents of Diogo Jota, a member of the Portugal team who died alongside his brother in a car crash last summer, attended the game in a luxury suite.<\/p>\n

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___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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