Cape Verde’s extraordinary World Cup story gathered yet more momentum in Miami on Sunday, as the Blue Sharks fought back from behind to earn a stunning 2-2 draw against two-time World Cup winners Uruguay, their second remarkable point in the tournament..
Kevin Pina opened the scoring for Cape Verde in the 21st minute with their first-ever goal at a World Cup — an outrageous 30-yard free-kick that sailed through a timid Uruguay wall and left goalkeeper Fernando Muslera rooted to the spot.
Cape Verde had chances to extend their lead. Lopes Cabral’s cross was well saved by Muslera, while Gilson Benchimol could not pick out Telmo Arcanjo for a one-on-one on the break as the Blue Sharks threatened a famous first win.
Uruguay responded with typical South American resilience. Maxi Araújo levelled with a close-range header in the 44th minute after a VAR check confirmed the goal, before Agustín Canobbio completed a stunning comeback in stoppage time, flicking home from close range to give Marcelo Bielsa’s side a 2-1 lead at the interval.
The second half, however, delivered another twist. The turning point came when Olivera’s terrible sideways pass drew Muslera well out of his box and into no-man’s land, where Cape Verde substitute Hélio Varela was on hand to seize the loose ball and tap it into an empty net in the 61st minute.
What followed was a pulsating finale. Uruguay thought they had a winner when Araújo tapped home a scrappy effort, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Steven Moreira then made two goal-saving blocks to deny Brian Rodríguez and Rodrigo Bentancur from close range. At the other end, Laros Duarte fired straight at the goalkeeper in a massive late chance for Cape Verde to claim the most improbable of wins, before Varela was denied a second goal by a goal-saving challenge from Bentancur.
The draw heaps further scrutiny on Uruguay and their embattled coach Bielsa, who is set to leave his post at the end of the tournament. Generational talisman Luis Suárez removed himself from international duty citing a toxic environment created by the coach, with Bielsa also reportedly snubbing the striker when he asked to return for the tournament.
For Cape Verde, the point is priceless. The Blue Sharks can now go into their final Group H game against Saudi Arabia knowing they may not even need to win to reach the round of 32, a prospect that would have seemed unimaginable before this tournament began.
