44′Maximiliano Araujo
45’+6′Agustin Canobbio
Kevin Pina21′
Hélio Varela61′
Cape Verde performed again at the Football World Cup. The number 67 in the FIFA world rankings kept Uruguay at 2-2 in Miami, so they can continue to believe in a place in the next round.
Sports editor
The football world knew that it is difficult to score a goal against Cape Verde after the 0-0 against Spain. The 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha held up well in the opening game and suddenly became very popular on Instagram. His story about his mother not being able to get a visa also went viral, which arranged for her to come.
She was there on Sunday evening in Miami, and for good reason. From the stands she saw how her Cape Verdean could also score in addition to defending. Kevin Pina decided to shoot a free kick on goal from about 25 meters away.
Uruguay’s two-man wall broke in half and Vozinha’s peer Fernando Muslera was passed in the short corner: 0-1 for Cape Verde and a historic first World Cup goal for the archipelago.
This is how the stunt was celebrated by the Cape Verdean community in Rotterdam:
Suddenly Cape Verde could hope for a new stunt and who knows, the next round of the World Cup. But shortly before halftime, all those thoughts could be put away again. Uruguay, which had hardly created any chances until then, scored twice in a short time. A header from a rebound by Maxi Araujo and a low shot from Agustin Canobbio made the halftime score 2-1.
Uruguay started the second half with a feeling that they had won the three points. That would almost certainly send the South American country to the next round after they drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.
That attitude was severely punished. Substitute Hélio Varela broke through in the 61st minute. Goalkeeper Muslera, who was goalkeeping in his 18th World Cup match, completely misjudged the deep through ball and saw Varela dribble around him and shoot: 2-2. Once again the entire selection sprinted after the goalscorer.
What followed was an exciting final phase, in which Uruguay continued to falter in attack. Chances were hardly created and the injured former Ajax player Luis Suarez watched it with dismay from the stands. Not much further away, Vozinha’s mother cheered. The 2-2 was over the line and Cape Verde can continue to dream of the next round.
Saudi Arabia is the opponent in Houston on Saturday night at 2 a.m. Dutch time. With a bit of luck, a draw will be enough for the next round. But Cape Verde can do more than that, everyone now knows.
liveblog
End of second half
Last! Cape Verde stunts again and remains undefeated at the World Cup! The match against Saudi Arabia will be an exciting one, because a place in the next round is suddenly at stake.
Uruguay is aiming for the same goal, but still has to play against Spain.
Duarte tries what Pina did at 1-0. But now Muslera is sharp and has a tight grip on the ball. 1 minute left!
Free kick for Cape Verde, a long way from the goal. Another cross comes.
No penalty Cape Verde
He doesn’t give it, but it certainly seemed like a player was taken down. The rebound shows that the Uruguay player hit the ball well.
Chance Cape Verde!
Shot from just outside the box by Duarte, but straight into the hands of Muslera.
Another missed opportunity
Goal scorer Connobio breaks through and can shoot freely from the right. He aims for the short corner and misses well.
Yellow card for Diney Borges
Just not for Uruguay
Darwin Nunez breaks through on the right and passes low. Vozinha misses the cross, but Valverde arrives a millisecond too late to tap in.
Oh, Valverde…
A free kick in an almost ideal location, but he shoots high.
Uruguay almost scored…
That made little difference. Vozinha taps a low cross back into the penalty area, after which Rodriguez can lash out. But three players dive for the ball and the ball flies over the goal via one of their bodies.
There is no real talk of a final offensive in Uruguay yet. Just like in the first half, the team finds it difficult to create opportunities. But it turned out that they don’t need much to score.
Maximiliano Araújo is replaced by Brian Rodríguez
Jamiro Monteiro is replaced by Yannick Semedo
Uruguay goal disallowed
Vozinha does well there. The goalkeeper sees the ball hit the post and wants to pick it up, but suddenly lets go. Uruguay then hits the target, but the flag goes up for offside.
Kevin Pina is replaced by Laros Duarte
Manuel Ugarte is replaced by Nicolás De La Cruz
Federico Viñas is replaced by Darwin Núñez
Monteiro!
It was almost 3-2 for Cape Verde. Monteiro gets a free shooting opportunity and aims a few centimeters above the intersection.
2-2! Cape Verde scores! GOAL by Hélio Varela!
Still right again! Out of nowhere! Cape Verde seemed completely out of the game, but then strikes. Substitute Varela has been on the field for just a minute and is the first to make a deep pass. Experienced goalkeeper Muslera estimates it is wrong and is played past. 2-2!
