MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — The fairy-tale debut of Cape Verde at the men’s FIFA World Cup has continued to turn heads across the global soccer community, adding another unforgettable chapter to the tiny island nation’s underdog story just one week after shocking title contender Spain.
Fresh off a widely praised scoreless draw against one of the tournament’s most fancied sides in their opening group stage match, Cape Verde notched an early 1-0 lead over two-time World Cup champion Uruguay on Wednesday, courtesy of a blistering free-kick finish from midfielder Kevin Pina. The 21st-minute strike marked the first competitive World Cup goal in Cape Verde’s entire 70-year-plus soccer history, a watershed moment for the small Atlantic archipelago that is competing in its first-ever World Cup finals.
The opportunity opened up after Uruguay’s midfield anchor Rodrigo Bentancur was booked with a yellow card for a foul just outside the Uruguay penalty area. Stepping up to take the set piece, Pina hit a powerful, low drive that eluded Uruguay’s diving veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and found the back of the net. The goal triggered chaotic celebrations among Cape Verde’s players, who swarmed Pina in a jubilant huddle, while thousands of Cape Verde supporters in the stands broke out into deafening chants and flag-waving celebrations.
This latest upset bid comes on the heels of Cape Verde’s stunning opening performance against Spain, where goalkeeper Vozinha put on a masterclass in shot-stopping to shut out the Spanish attacking lineup of global superstars, cementing himself as one of the breakout stars of the first round of group stage matches. Ahead of the Uruguay clash, Vozinha got an emotional personal surprise: after celebrating his team’s historic debut against Spain without his mother in the stands, she was able to attend the Sunday matchup to watch his historic performance in person.
As one of the smallest nations ever to qualify for the World Cup finals, Cape Verde’s run of impressive results has already cemented their place as the most beloved underdog story of this year’s tournament, capturing the imagination of soccer fans around the world who are rooting for the tiny island side to continue their unlikely run.