Yoane Wissa gives DR Congo first ever World Cup point in draw with Portugal

They came to see Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps expecting feats to rival Lionel Messi’s remarkable display the night before. Ronaldo’s many followers in Houston did their best to summon a meaningful contribution from their idol but ultimately there were 16 players infinitely more deserving of acclaim. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could have folded after falling behind to João Neves’s early goal but recovered brilliantly to salvage a historic draw on their return to the World Cup, Yoane Wissa’s leveller followed by a triumph of defensive discipline and resolve. Roberto Martínez kept Ronaldo on the pitch for all 95 minutes but, beyond two half-chances midway through the second period, his contribution was minimal and did little to assuage concerns that his presence is a potentially crippling millstone. The roar when Ronaldo first took possession as the clock struck two minutes, thrilling the masses with a sideways pass to João Cancelo, underlined who a giant swathe of those present had arrived to witness. Texans had embraced their dalliance with football celebrity even if the journey to the stadium, through part-flooded roads for anyone driving from downtown, proved a challenge amid torrential morning rain. Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa who had facilitated Ronaldo’s eligibility for this match by suspending the final two matches of a three-game ban, was among those to arrive on time. …