Cape Verde score maiden World Cup goal as they hold Uruguay to draw
· Yahoo Sports
Debutants Cape Verde scored their first World Cup goals as they held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw to claim another historic point on Sunday.
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They had previously held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their tournament opener last week.
But this time around it was even better as they also found the net for the first time in a World Cup.
"I want to congratulate the team and all of our people for the way we played, with out hearts," Cape Verde coach Bubista said.
"We finished the match under a lot of difficulty, with many players already suffering from cramps. But our team was brave throughout, always looking to win the game, and that make us very happy."
Kevin Pina did the honours and scored Cape Verde's maiden World Cup goal to give them the lead in the 21st minute with a stunning free-kick from distance.
Uruguay hit back and Maxi Araújo levelled in the 44th, while Agustin Canobbio turned the game around shortly before the break.
But substitute Helio Varela needed just three minutes on the pitch to score in the 61st and help Cape Verde keep writing football history.
"When we defended well, the match allowed us to pull ahead. When we lost control of the game, that lead narrowed compared to our opponents. The decisive factor in the result was that we let our intensity drop," Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said.
Spain top Group H after their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia earlier. Uruguay are second but tied on two points with Cape Verde. The Saudi team sits bottom of the table with just one point.
In the final group stage match, Cape Verde face Saudi Arabia while Uruguay take on Spain on Friday.
Twenty-one
The number 21 will now surely be written on the hearts of Cape Verde fans. On June 21, 21 minutes into the match, the nation scored their first-ever World Cup goal.
Pina stood over a free-kick from distance and drilled it between the wall and into the goal. The ball kicked on the ground before falling into the net, making it harder for Fernando Muslera to attempt a save.
The two-time world champions, however, wouldn't go down without a fight. In the 44th, Sidny Lopes Cabral rose to clear the ball but his attempt came off his own post. The ball then bounced back to Araújo, who headed it home to equalize.
And before the break, Uruguay took the lead, with Araújo this time serving Canobbio's effort.
But Cabo Verde were on a mission to stun another former world champion and they did so when Varela secured them a point in the 61st.
After a missed pass in Uruguay's half, Varela tapped the ball around goalkeeper Muslera, who was far off his line, before slotting it into the empty net.
"I had dreamed of this but I never imagined it would happen this way. Scoring my first goal for the national team on my World Cup debut is incredible. I have no words," Varela said.
Uruguay's Maximiliano Araujo celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/dpaCape Verde's Kevin Pina (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa