Congo stuns Portugal in 1-1 draw
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Yoane Wissa (20) of Congo scores his team's only goal at Houston Stadium. Photo: Molly Darlington/Getty Images
A thunderous cheer erupted from a small pocket of Congolese fans inside sold-out Houston Stadium when Congo — making its first World Cup appearance in 52 years — equalized star-studded Portugal.
Why it matters: The match ended in a 1-1 draw — a surprising result against one of the tournament favorites.
- For Congo, which has been training in Houston, the hard-fought point became a source of pride for fans.
The vibe: Absolutely electric. The stadium was awash in Portugal's red (with thousands wearing star Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys), dotted with small sections of Congolese supporters in blue.
- When Congo scored, moments before halftime, celebrations spilled into the concessions area. Fans — some from Houston and many who traveled from states including Oregon, Illinois and North Carolina — were in disbelief.
- The celebration for Congo continued as they left the stadium, chanting "Wissa" for Yoane Wissa, who scored his team's goal.
Chants of "Portugal" and "Cristiano Ronaldo" echoed throughout the stadium.
- Fans told Axios they traveled from across the U.S. and from Portugal and Mexico to see Ronaldo in his sixth World Cup. Despite his not scoring, fans did not relent chanting his name.
Context: Portugal is one of the favorites to win the World Cup. Congo was ranked 43rd in the world in the last FIFA ranking before the cup began.
What they're saying: "It feels historic. It's legendary," fan Yves Makoba told Axios. He paid $1,300 for the game and is going to all of Congo's matches.
- "We came for Ronaldo. It was a good game. Congo did good," Eduardo Rueda, a Portugal fan who flew in from Mexico, said.
- "It's the first game of the World Cup. They're, I think, trying to piece things together. It's been OK," Bryan Navarro, a Portugal fan, said.
Follow the money: Fans told Axios they paid anywhere from $400 to more than $1,500 for tickets.
- Some Houston-based Congolese fans, like Chris Sivuilu, told Axios they had tickets for only Wednesday's match. But now, they might shell out more money to see their country play.
Many fans from Congo couldn't make the trip because of Ebola-related CDC travel restrictions.
What's next: Portugal plays Uzbekistan on Tuesday in its second group stage match Tuesday in Houston.
- Congo plays against Colombia on Tuesday.