FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde extend World Cup fairytale to set up Argentina meeting
The stalemate in Houston and Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay meant the team finished 67th in Group H, behind Spain.
Having drawn in all three group matches, the archipelagic country with a population of just over 500,000 will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami on July 3 in another chapter of their remarkable story.
Players and some fans of Cape Verde, the third smallest team by population in World Cup history, burst into tears afterwards.
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The team waited an agonizing minute or two before news of Spain’s victory filtered into the mobile phone and then began celebrating.
Spain, which left their first round match against Cape Verde 0-0, completed the match with 7 points, while the teams that played their first match returned home with 3 points, and Uruguay and Saudi Arabia returned home with 2 points. Spain will face second-placed Algeria or Austria in Group J.
At a time when history beckoned, Cape Verdean coach Bubista rotated half his starting squad, some struggling but keeping his hero goalkeeper Vozinha.
The 40-year-old centre-back managed to keep Cape Verde single-handed as they contested a famous point against European champions Spain in their first World Cup match.
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Cape Verde, on the west coast of Africa, then earned a brave 2-2 draw with former two-time champions Uruguay.
This gave them an incredible chance in the last 32 against Saudi Arabia, who were themselves still alive.
At the same time, Spain and Uruguay faced off in Guadalajara, fielding an unexpectedly tight group.
Cape Verde fared slightly better in the first half against Saudi Arabia, drawing 1-1 with Uruguay and losing 4-0 to Spain in Houston.
The Saudis were dealt a blow in the 33rd minute when experienced defender Hasan al-Tambakti was injured and stretched.
Spain’s lead towards the end of the first half in Mexico was greeted with cheers from Cape Verde fans in Houston.
Willy Semedo fired home from not far from the Saudi goal but neither side posed a serious threat in a tense first half.
At that point, Cape Verde was passing through at Uruguay’s expense.
Three minutes after the break Jamiro Monteiro had a great chance from close range but his finish was poor, before a Kevin Pina effort from distance was just wide of the target.
The tension increased a bit more as we entered the final quarter, but Saudi Arabia, despite being on the hunt for the game, were strangely lacking in invention.
In the 75th minute, goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais kept them in the game with a vital stop from Laros Duarte.
One point was enough for Cape Verde, but they were more likely to score as the game progressed into the final minutes.
