Despite coming up against a Cristiano Ronaldo-led side, the Leopards who were returning to the global stage for the second time since 1774, managed to cancel out an early lead to settle for a vital point.
In the Group K clash, Joao Neves scored the opener after just six minutes for Portugal, but DR Congo refused to cave in as forward Yoane Wissa equalised with a few seconds left to the half-time break.
Portugal attempted to reassert their authority after the restart and briefly thought they had restored their lead when Joao Cancelo found the net with a spectacular effort.
However, the celebrations were cut short as VAR confirmed an offside infringement. Speaking after the game, Desabre praised his players for sticking to the game plan, which enabled them to avoid defeat and register a crucial point.
‘I am very proud of my players’
“The players showed incredible commitment and selflessness,” the French tactician said.
“We executed the game plan exactly as we wanted, scored from a set piece, and honestly, I am very proud of my players because they represented the Congo in a very positive way and the entire country deserves it.”
Goalscorer Wissa said: “I’m obviously very proud today (Wednesday) because we’ve worked extremely hard. It was a very difficult match against a team that was stronger than us.
“But we showed courage and resilience. Scoring our first goal is a huge source of pride because it reflects the character of this team. The most important thing now is to keep going.”
Martinez praises DR Congo
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez explained why DR Congo became a difficult side to break down in the second half. According to Martinez, the goal they scored gave them confidence to challenge his side.
“We started the match very well. Scoring should have been a great moment, but it wasn't. I think we lost a bit of our attacking depth, lost fluency in possession, and allowed them to regain their shape somewhat,” said Martinez.
“The confidence they gained after the goal made the game very difficult, but that's what happens at World Cups.
“I'm very satisfied with the team's attitude. It wasn’t a problem of lacking commitment or heart; we kept trying until the very end. We can grow a lot from this match.”
The Leopards will return to action to face Colombia on June 23rd and conclude their group matches against Uzbekistan on June 27th.
