MIAMI : Tournament debutants Cape Verde continued their impressive start to the World Cup with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Uruguay on Sunday, earning another valuable point in Group H after matching the South American side throughout an entertaining contest.
Having held Spain to a goalless draw in their opening match, Cape Verde showed no signs of intimidation against two-time world champions Uruguay and took the lead through Kevin Pina’s stunning long-range strike, the nation’s first-ever goal at a World Cup finals.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute after Telmo Arcanjo won a free kick following a powerful run through midfield. Pina stepped up and unleashed a low effort from 31 metres that beat the goalkeeper and sparked celebrations among the Cape Verde supporters.
Uruguay responded strongly and overturned the deficit before halftime.
Maxi Araujo levelled the score when he reacted quickest to head home a rebound, and the winger then turned provider, flicking on a cross for Agustin Canobbio to nod in Uruguay’s second goal and give Marcelo Bielsa’s side a 2-1 lead at the break.
Cape Verde refused to fade and found an equaliser shortly after halftime through substitute Helio Varela.
Only two minutes after entering the match, Varela capitalised on a misplaced back pass from Mathias Olivera, racing onto the loose ball before rounding the advancing goalkeeper and calmly finishing into an empty net.
Both sides pushed for a winner in an open second half, but neither could find a decisive breakthrough as the points were shared.
The result leaves Uruguay and Cape Verde level on two points in Group H, two behind leaders Spain, who have collected four points from their opening two matches.
With one round of group fixtures remaining, Cape Verde’s remarkable unbeaten start to their first World Cup campaign has left them firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stage.
