DR Congo Scores First World Cup Goal Against Portugal Amidst Corruption Probe Involving Elye Wahi

We're well into the final stanza of this match, and it must be said, DRC is definitely looking the most energetic of the two teams.

Portugal, meanwhile, is looking slightly dazed, having never quite got going in the forward third.

They have fashioned precious few clear-cut chances so far today.

Meanwhile, centre-forward Goncalo Ramos replaces central midfielder Vitinha for Portugal.

Joris Kayembe and Charles Pickle come on for Arthur Masuaku and Edo Kayembe for DRC.

And Rafael Leao as well as Nelson Semedo enter the game for Pedro Neto and Nuno Mendes.

A new left-hand side for Portugal.

Okay, this is getting very interesting now.

Portugal have returned from the hydration break with a bit more incision than they had before it, but they're also leaving themselves a little more vulnerable to the counterattack.

DR Congo push forward from a defnesive corner, and a swift move ends at the feet of Cedric Bakambu on the edge of the penalty area.

His side-footed effort flies over the crossbar.

After almost 70 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo finally has a look at goal.

Francisco Conceicao is dancing his way into the penalty area before squaring the ball to Ronaldo, who does his best to angle the ball towards goal.

It's a clever little deflection, but one that doesn't trouble Lionel Nzau Mpasi in the Congolese goal.

It's just their second shot on goal today!

And we're off to another hydration break.

The Congo continues to assert itself well in Houston.

A ball into the box is met with a weak header. Easily collected by Diogo Costa but it's another effort on goal from DRC.

Portugal, for all their huff and puff, control and class, has only mustered one more shot since taking the lead in the sixth minute of the game.

The nerves are jangling for Portugal.

Only moments after Joao Cancelo had his acrobatic finish ruled out, DRC streams forward.

The ball ends at the feet of Cedric Bakambu in the penalty area, who slams his effort into the post!

However, once again, the whistle is blown - this time for a foul in the buildup, I think.

Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes wears a pretty heavy tackle.

He's down for a little while but is eventually up and about.

Oh, that's a tragedy.

Joao Cancelo has what would have been one of the goals of the tournament ruled out for offside.

The fullback finds himself in the box, and has a cross nudged down towards him.

Cancelo swivels and acrobatically scythes his shot into the net via a bicycle kick, but the flag is up immediately.

It's offside.

Beautifull worked move from the Portuguese.

Again, it's Pedro Neto with the ball at his feet on the edge of the penalty area.

He dinks an inviting ball into the box.

Substitute Francisco Conceicao is rising at the back post but not making any good contact.

There's a little grappling but nowhere near enough to tempt the referee to bring his whistle to his mouth.

Here we go.

45 minutes for Portugal to find a winner.

45 minutes for Congo to earn a famous, famous victory.

DRC looks to be dropping back quite dramatically as the half begins, lining up with a very flat five across the back.

And Portugal has made a half-time change.

Attacker Francisco Conceicao is on in place of Bernardo Silva.

— with Reuters

Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi is at the centre of an investigation into suspected sports corruption after unusual betting patterns were detected around a yellow card he received in a Ligue 1 match last month, according to statements from French authorities and the French Professional Football League (LFP).

Wahi, who was not immediately available to comment, was not named as a suspect.

A spokesperson for the Marseille prosecutor's office told Reuters a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was taken into custody on May 29 as part of an investigation into suspected organised fraud, organised sports corruption, handling stolen goods and money laundering.

The LFP said it had alerted authorities after betting monitoring partners detected an unusually high volume of wagers placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during Nice's final-day league match against Metz on May 17.

The LFP said it had not initiated disciplinary proceedings and would make no further comment.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the Ivory Coast team or Wahi's agent for comment.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Wahi had been arrested by French police on May 29, little more than two weeks before Ivory Coast opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia.

Well, what a moment to end that first half.

Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa rises expertly to score DR Congo's first ever World Cup goal and tie things up in Houston.

And, in all fairness, it's nothing they didn't deserve.

After going behind so early, DRC broke out of their shell, taking the game to Portugal and fashioning a fair share of the chances.

However, Portugal's quality is evident, especially in midfield and down the left.

Nuno Mendes a constant threat from left back and Bruno Fernandes showing some glimpses of quality in the centre of the park.

An intriguing second 45 awaits.

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 wins a second corner in quick succession, and this time opt to work it short, which changes the angle for the eventual inch-perfect cross.

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

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 mis hits 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.