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Playing successful their archetypal World Cup tourney successful 52 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated a memorable return to the World Cup connected Wednesday, earning a 1-1 gully against Portugal successful Group K and earning the nation’s archetypal constituent successful tourney history.
Portugal struck early successful the Group K opener astatine NRG Stadium erstwhile Pedro Neto delivered a transverse that João Neves headed location successful the sixth minute. Roberto Martínez’s broadside controlled possession and looked comfortable, but DR Congo (competing successful its archetypal World Cup since the 1974 tourney erstwhile it played arsenic Zaire), steadily grew into the lucifer and recovered an equalizer conscionable earlier halftime. Yoane Wissa converted a transverse from Arthur Masuaku, scoring the country’s first-ever World Cup goal and silencing a Portugal broadside led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who was making a grounds sixth World Cup quality astatine property 41. Ronaldo struggled to marque a large interaction arsenic Portugal managed constricted wide chances contempt enjoying agelong spells connected the ball. Congo, coached by Sébastien Desabre, threatened to implicit the upset aft the break, with Cédric Bakambu striking the station during 1 of respective unsafe counterattacks.
The effect capped a remarkable comeback for the Congolese team, which qualified for the expanded 48-team tourney done the intercontinental playoffs. Congo had failed to people and mislaid each 3 matches successful its lone erstwhile World Cup quality 52 years ago, making Wednesday’s show a landmark achievement. Players celebrated Wissa’s extremity with the accepted “Fimbu” dance, a awesome embraced by the nationalist squad successful caller years.
The gully leaves Group K wide unfastened arsenic some sides hole to question for their 2nd matches of the radical signifier connected Tuesday. Portugal remains successful Houston to look Uzbekistan, looking to close their violative struggles, portion the energized Democratic Republic of Congo squad travels to Mexico to lucifer up against Colombia.
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