Cape Verde stun Uruguay again to claim shock second World Cup point

Cape Verde continued their remarkable World Cup run with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Miami, earning a second point against the two-time champions. In one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches so far, the African island nation showed bravery, composure and enough quality to stay right in the hunt for the knockout stages.

Kevin Pina gave Cape Verde the lead with a superb long-range free-kick that slipped through Uruguay’s two-man wall. Uruguay responded before half-time through Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio, turning the game around just before the break. But Cape Verde refused to be overwhelmed and levelled again when Uruguay gifted them a route back in through poor defending.

That equaliser came in comical fashion. Mathias Olivera’s misplaced square pass left goalkeeper Fernando Muslera scrambling out of his goal, and substitute Helio Varela calmly flicked the ball over him to score into an empty net. The goal summed up Cape Verde’s persistence and Uruguay’s defensive chaos.

Uruguay thought they had won it when Araujo bundled in a third, but the goal was ruled out for offside. From there, Steven Moreira produced two huge goal-line blocks to keep out Brian Rodriguez and Rodrigo Bentancur, while Laros Duarte missed a golden chance to win it for Cape Verde late on.

Cape Verde’s performance means they can approach their final Group H match against Saudi Arabia with real confidence. A draw there may be enough to send them through to the round of 32. Uruguay, meanwhile, now look under pressure and may need a result against Spain in their final group game just to qualify.

The result has intensified scrutiny on Marcelo Bielsa’s side. They have now struggled in back-to-back matches and have looked short of belief as well as cutting edge. Uruguay created plenty of chances but were wildly inefficient, with only two shots on target and far too many misses.

Cape Verde, by contrast, defended with heart and organisation. Their back line repeatedly cleared danger, their midfield worked tirelessly, and their attacking players punished every lapse. It was another fearless display from a team that continues to surprise the football world.