Live: DR Congo stun Ronaldo’s Portugal with stoppage time header

Oh my gosh.

What a moment for DRC!

It’s their first ever World Cup goal, and it comes from the head of Yoane Wissa.

Congo works the corner short and the ball is eventually whipped into the box.

Wissa is unmarked and the Newcastle United forward rises and heads home on the stroke of half time!

DRC looks to finish the half with a bang, and almost do – a curling strike from outside of the box is deflected wide.

Arthur Masuaku whips in a corner from the left, which is pushed out for another corner.

Portugal is circulating the ball through midfield and DRC’s Kayembe senses an opportunity.

He gets a foot to the ball and there’s a sharp intake of breath in Houston as it looks like, for a moment, Cedric Bakambu might get onto it.

The ball falls safely back into Portuguese possession, but that’s a warning sign for the team in red.

Once again, Portugal prod and probe down the left-hand side.

Bruno Fernandes dinks a lovely little through ball over the top of the Congolese backline and Nuno Mendes steams onto it.

However, the move breaks down and DRC is able to get back in numbers.

The ball ends at the feet of Fernandes, who mishits his long-range effort.

Congo captain Chancel Mbemba gets his name taken for a rather inocuous incident with Pedro Neto.

The players both rose for a header and Mbemba’s hand made contact with Neto’s neck.

There wasn’t a whole lot of contact, and none of it was malicious, but it’s a yellow none the less.

The resulting freekick is easily dealt with by the Portuguese defence.

And we’re back.

Portugal is once again pushing down the left.

Nuno Mendes threads through a lovely ball, which Pedro Neto hares onto.

Cristiano Ronaldo is waiting to pounce in the middle, but the square ball from Neto doesn’t get to the 41-year-old.

Chancel Mbemba is on hand to intercept.

So far, so good for Portugal.

A perfect start to this World Cup for the team in red, with Joao Neves rising like a salmon to head home early on in Houston.

Go treat yourself to a drink, fellas.

Nuno Mendes charges forward from left back, breaking past two challenges before staring down the goalkeeper.

However, an excellent last-ditch challenge from Chancel Mbemba ends the move.

This has been a good response from DRC.

Cedric Bakambu collects the ball and steams forward from the halfway line.

He lets fly from the edge of the penalty area and the ball is deflected behind off a Congolese leg.

Portugal has a chance to break from the resulting corner, but a backtracking Yoane Wissa produces a heroic tackle to stop the counter in its tracks.

New Real Madrid signing Bernardo Silva is stretching and mistiming his challenge on Kayembe.

It’s a poor tackle and a clear yellow card, the first of the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t happy and is engaged in animated conversation with the referee.

Okay, that’s better from DRC, who have their first meaningful moment inside Portuguese territory.

The ball is worked through the middle, out to the right, and then to Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa on the edge of the penalty area.

He has a moment to steady himself, takes a side-footed shot, and sees his effort fly just wide of the post.

And it’s Joao Neves!

That didn’t take long.

Pedro Neto whips in a teasing cross from the left and Neves rises.

It’s a beautifully timed leap, a wonderful twist of the head and a brilliant way to open the scoring.

The camera pans to the parents of the late Diogo Jota. It’s a goal devoted to the former Liverpool forward and an emotional moment for the entire team.

There’s a massive roar as Cristiano Ronaldo gets his first touch of the ball at what will surely be his final World Cup.

He comes slightly deep to get a pass away after a prolonged spell of Portuguese possession to get things underway.

Fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Joao Concello are pushing very high early, providing extra men in the attack as DRC drops very, very deep.

And we’re away in Houston.

Portugal in deep red, DRC in bright blue.

All eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal begins the game with a spell of possession.

The players have entered the arena, with the customary massive flags are draped on either side of the field.

The Portuguese national anthem is the first to cascade from the stadium speakers, and I will say, the men in red don’t half belt it out.

They’re pumped.

It has been revealed overnight that versatile Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva has signed for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Silva left Manchester City at the end of last season after a highly successful nine-year spell with the club and joins Los Blancos on a free transfer.

He starts on the wing today for Portugal.

DRC field a relatively familiar starting XI for fans of European football, with Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa starting up front alongside Real Betis star Cedric Bakambu, and West Ham United right-back Aaron Wan-Bisaaka joined by former Hammers left-back Arthur Masuaku.

This is DRC’s first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Three and a half years ago, a then 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was released by Manchester United midway through Qatar 2022.

He didn’t start all the games at the tournament, and by the time a teary Ronaldo trudged off the field after Portugal’s quarter-final loss to Morocco, it felt very unlikely the superstar would make it to another World Cup.

But make it he did.

Now 41, Ronaldo is coming off three successful seasons in the Saudi Pro League, and has – surely, this time – one final shot at global glory.