Wow. The continuation of Cape Verde’s fairytale may have serious repercussions for Marcelo Bielsa and Uruguay. The heroics of Cape Verde in holding Spain to a draw mean Uruguay should have been forewarned and forearmed in Florida. Instead, this tiny nation with a population equivalent to that of Bristol embarrassed World Cup aristocracy once more. What fun, what glorious fun.
Uruguay now head into Group H’s final game against Spain with their tournament involvement in serious jeopardy. Uruguay had already failed to beat Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde will hold high and legitimate hopes of seeing off the Saudis on Friday. The Blue Sharks are the early story of this World Cup.
Twenty minutes had been played. Kevin Pina lined up a free-kick, 28 yards from goal. The two-man wall inexplicably broke, allowing Pina’s fierce shot to hurtle towards Fernando Muslera. Uruguay’s veteran goalkeeper could not adjust his feet quickly enough, the ball flying past him to hand Cape Verde the lead. Cameras panned to a euphoric Ana Candida Evora in the stands; the mother of Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha had feared she would miss this occasion in Miami due to cost. What a moment, not only for Evora. Cape Verde’s head coach, Bubista – dressed in blue denim and a T-shirt – was upstaging the renowned Bielsa.
Uruguay responded. Nonetheless, the two goals in the dying embers of the first half which felt hugely significant were only to stir a response from those in red. Cape Verde’s offering to this game and this World Cup must be savoured. They have not only capable players but fearless ones. A team that epitomise everything that is good about the underdog.
Pina’s goal came amid early stages where Uruguay wasted their dominance of possession. Cape Verde’s players had swayed in unison during their national anthem. They were soon to rock Bielsa.
Cape Verde seemed to draw confidence from Garry Rodrigues, whose touch and electric pace left Guillermo Varela for dust. Pina soon sparked wild scenes among the tiny contingent in the stands who were dressed in blue. Not content with holding Spain, Cape Verde wanted a scalp. Pina will go down in history as the scorer of his nation’s maiden World Cup goal. Uruguayan panic was summed up by Muslera, who scrambled to bat away a cross-cum-shot from Sidny Cabral.
Cape Verde will be angry at the manner in which Uruguay apparently turned this fixture back in their favour. Rodrigo Bentancur’s header deflected off Cabral and on to a post before rebounding into the six-yard area. Maximiliano Araújo was standing in splendid isolation there, the Sporting Lisbon man tapping in for 1-1. Moments earlier, Telmo Arcanjo had attempted to lob Muslera from 75 yards. The attempt was needless; Cape Verde were worrying Uruguay with direct running.
Uruguay nudged ahead with seconds of first-half stoppage time remaining. The interval scoreline was unquestionably harsh on their opponents. Again, the goal was beyond soft from a defensive standpoint. Araújo headed the ball into the path of Agustín Canobbio, who was totally unmarked. Another blissfully easy finish from close range allowed the vast ranks of Uruguay fans to relax. Likewise applied to Luis Suárez, who watched from a corporate box.
The two-time World Cup winners had not factored in Cape Verde’s wonderful, indomitable spirit. Or, indeed, defensive calamity. Having received a throw-in, Mathías Olivera played a blind ball right across his own goal. No wonder he was to cover his head with his shirt within seconds. Muslera was in no man’s land, which allowed Helio Varela to steal in. Showing great composure given the circumstances, Varela stroked the ball home before leading his teammates on a celebratory dance. No wonder.
Uruguay thought they had taken the lead as Araújo bundled the ball over the line, only for offside to be called for earlier in the move. This saved the blushes of Vozinha, who had spilled the ball.
Uruguay’s finest spell of the game followed. Doubtless through awareness of a bigger section picture, Uruguay frantically chased the fifth goal of the night. An outstanding Steven Moreira block denied Bielsa’s men the lead. Federico Valverde cracked a free-kick narrowly over Vozinha’s bar. Canobbio lacked calmness when through on goal. Cape Verde were hemmed in but so resilient.
Eight minutes of stoppage time concluded with Cape Verde, remarkably, on the front foot. Bielsa sat motionless on his Powerade box. He, and Uruguay, are in trouble now. They are the only ones who will not appreciate this uplifting and continuing Cape Verde contribution.