Portugal Hold Congo to 1-1 Draw as Ronaldo Defended

Portugal opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Congo at NRG Stadium, with Joao Neves scoring early and Yoane Wissa equalising for Congo in stoppage time. It was Congo’s first point and first goal in a World Cup, echoing Cape Verde’s strong start as the second African side to secure a point against a European opponent. sport-tr.bet

Coach Roberto Martinez defended Ronaldo’s performance, noting the player’s experience and ability to draw defenders, and said it made no sense to remove the world’s top scorer when goals were needed. Ronaldo, the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, missed two shots, but Martinez highlighted his importance in the box. The match drew 68,777 spectators, mostly Portugal supporters.