Cape Verde secure historic point amid drama

Underdogs Cape Verde produced yet another historic FIFA World Cup result by holding South American giants Uruguay to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Miami Stadium.

The relentless African nation shook up Group H early in the 21st minute when midfielder Kevin Pina opened the scoring with a brilliant, long-range free-kick that sailed straight through a fractured Uruguayan wall.

Stung by the opener, Uruguay mounted a fierce response and finally leveled the scores in the 44th minute when Maximiliano Araújo tapped home from close range.

The Sky Blue completely turned the game on its head deep into first-half stoppage time (45+6), as Agustín Canobbio finished a beautiful team sequence initiated by Manuel Ugarte.

Refusing to back down, the Blue Sharks capitalised on a defensive error in the 61st minute when substitute Hélio Varela coolly slotted the ball past an exposed Fernando Muslera to equalize.

Just two minutes later, Cape Verde almost pulled off a monumental victory when Jamiro Monteiro’s dipping long-range strike beat Muslera but agonisingly clipped the roof of the net. The match ended in massive controversy as the referee blew the final whistle right before Cape Verde could take a late free-kick deep in the Uruguayan half.

The full-time whistle sparked furious protests from the African side, who felt denied a genuine chance to secure a famous win.

Nevertheless, Cape Verde remain remarkably unbeaten in their World Cup history following successive draws against footballing powerhouses Spain and Uruguay.