Cape Verde Gets First World Cup Goals in Draw With Uruguay

Cape Verde got on the scoreboard for the first time in its World Cup career on June 21, and the team’s hope for advancement to the knockout round stays alive.

The Cinderella debutant team, which held European Champions Spain to a 0–0 draw last week, survived its second World Cup match with a 2–2 draw against Uruguay in Miami.

Cape Verde drew first blood in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina turned a free kick into the team’s first-ever World Cup goal.

But Uruguay kept up the pressure. Maxi Araújo secured the equalizer, charging deep into the six-yard box, and then Agustín Canobbio found the back of the net just as deep into the attacking zone six minutes into stoppage time, going into half-time with a 2–1 lead.

Uruguay maintained possession for nearly two-thirds of the match as well as a stronger physical element. “La Celeste” committed 11 fouls in the 90 minutes, including two yellow cards. Cape Verde’s Tubarões Azuis also took home two yellow cards, but only earned four fouls total.

The match’s second equalizer came in the 61st minute on the foot of Cape Verde substitute Hélio Varela. An aggressive but failing push by Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera gave Varela an open net. Two touches of the ball were all it took for the sub to re-establish the even score.

Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, faced 17 shots during the match, but the only two shots Uruguay had on target got past him. However, he was able to play in front of his mom thanks to efforts from the State Department to resolve visa issues preventing her from watching her son in person.

The draw comes after Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4–0 earlier on Sunday, and while the loss puts an epitaph on Saudi Arabia’s World Cup campaign, the fate of the other three teams will be dependent upon the third and final game of the preliminary group stage on June 26.

Uruguay will finally face Spain in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Cape Verde will play Saudi Arabia in Houston.

In order to guarantee advancement to the knockout round in their first-ever World Cup, Cape Verde will have to beat or draw with Saudi Arabia, and Spain will have to beat Uruguay.

If Uruguay secures a draw with Spain, Cape Verde will have to beat Saudi Arabia to avoid any further contention for that second place spot.

The match against Uruguay is also a must-win for Spain, who were short of the knockout round due to the draw with Cape Verde.

The top two teams in each four-team group automatically advance to the knockout round, as well as the top eight of 12 third place teams. Determining the top eight will come down to a number of factors, including overall points, the number of goals scored compared to the number of goals against, and FIFA power ranking.