Cape Verde continued their remarkable World Cup adventure on Sunday, battling back to earn a 2-2 draw against Uruguay and proving that their opening stalemate with Spain was no fluke.
The Blue Sharks, among the smallest nations competing at the tournament, once again defied expectations by taking points from one of football’s traditional powers.
Despite Uruguay dominating possession and creating the better chances early on, Cape Verde struck first in the 21st minute.
Kevin Pina produced a moment of history when he curled a stunning free-kick beyond goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the net, registering Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Uruguay responded strongly and turned the game around before the break. Maximiliano Araújo restored parity after converting a rebound, while Agustín Canobbio completed the comeback in first-half stoppage time after being set up by Araújo.
With momentum firmly on their side, Uruguay appeared poised to secure victory. However, Cape Verde found a lifeline through substitute Hélio Varela shortly after the restart.
Just three minutes after entering the match, Varela capitalized on a costly error from Mathías Olivera, intercepting a misplaced back pass before calmly rounding Muslera and finishing into an empty net to make it 2-2.
The equalizer sparked wild celebrations among the Cape Verde players, but they still had work to do.
Uruguay launched wave after wave of attacks, finishing with 17 shots and enjoying significantly more touches inside the opposition penalty area.
Yet Cape Verde’s resilient defence stood firm under intense pressure, preserving the draw and extending the nation’s impressive unbeaten start to the tournament.
