Cape Verde hold Uruguay in thrilling 2-2 draw at World Cup debut

Cape Verde’s gripping World Cup debut continued as they held two-time champions Uruguay to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Miami.

Having delighted fans with a shock 0-0 draw against Spain in their opener, Cape Verde took a dream lead against Uruguay through Kevin Pina’s long-range free-kick in the 21st minute. The strike went through the middle of the wall and left the goalkeeper stranded.

Going ahead changed the game’s structure as Cape Verde became more attacking and left themselves exposed at the back. Uruguay made the most of the extra space to wrest control of midfield.

Maxi Araujo dived low to nod in an equaliser after defender Sidny Lopes Cabral flicked a delivery back toward his own goal. The goal shifted momentum back to Uruguay.

“Agustin Canobbio, who was not in the starting line-up for Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, then justified his inclusion by turning home an Araujo pass from close range in first-half stoppage time,” the match report noted.

Cape Verde’s poor distribution in the face of a tireless Uruguayan press often made it difficult for them to build up through the pitch, although they kept trying to work openings.

And Cape Verde found a way to hit back thanks largely to a lapse in concentration from the Uruguay defence.

Mathias Olivera tried to play the ball across his own box but did not notice the waiting Helio Varela.

Varela controlled the ball, took it past the goalkeeper and guided it into the back of the empty net to restore parity for the debutants.

Uruguay nearly snatched a winner late on, but Federico Valverde had a goal ruled out for offside after bundling the ball over the line from close range. Both sides created further chances in stoppage time.

“Second-placed Uruguay and third-placed Cape Verde have two points from two games in Group H and both remain in the hunt to qualify for the last 32,” the report concluded.

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