Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal held to a 1-1 draw by Congo at the World Cup

HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Congo on Wednesday in their opening match at the .

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 on Monday.

鈥淭he World Cup is a tournament where this happens,鈥� said Portugal coach Roberto Mart铆nez, a Spaniard who coached Belgium to the semifinals at the 2018 tournament. 鈥淎t times the performance is not up to the challenge.鈥�

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.

Many Congolese were prevented from traveling to the United States for this year’s tournament because of restrictions tied to Ebola.

鈥淭here was not enough blue in the stands, but the players are tough and they know how to overcome challenges,鈥� Congo coach S茅bastien Desabre said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 sure that many Congolese people are proud of their team today.鈥�

Jo茫o Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the sixth minute. The 5-foot-7 midfielder headed in a cross from Pedro Neto.

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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy,鈥� Wissa said. 鈥淔ifty-two years later we are here, we are back. It鈥檚 been long, it鈥檚 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淭he goal changed things,鈥� Mart铆nez said. 鈥淲e almost felt the fear of not losing the game.鈥�

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.

Mart铆nez was asked if he considered taking out Ronaldo on Wednesday.

鈥淚t makes no sense to get the best world scorer to be out when you need goals,鈥� the coach said. 鈥淭he experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important.鈥�

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.

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, , by becoming the first player to score in a sixth tournament if he does manage to get one into the net this year.

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

Portugal looked to have taken the lead in the 55th minute on a bicycle kick by Jo茫o Cancelo, but he was ruled offside.

Soon after that, C茅dric Bakambu鈥檚 attempt to put Congo in front failed when his shot bounced off the near post.

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.

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