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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Lawrence Ostlere

Cape Verde pull off second stunning World Cup upset as Uruguay held to dramatic draw

Cape Verde players celebrate Kevin Pina's free-kick to open the scoring - (Getty)

Cape Verde pulled off another stunning shock at the 2026 World Cup as they held Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Miami.

The team had already produced a remarkable 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in their opening game, and they added another point to their tally as they took advantage of mistakes in Uruguay’s defensive line.

The tournament ⁠debutants went toe-to-toe with the South American heavyweights in an entertaining end-to-end game.

Cape Verde took ​the ⁠lead in the 21st minute after Telmo Arcanjo earned a free kick ⁠following a blistering run and Kevin Pina ​stepped ⁠up to drill ‌home a low shot from 30 yards out for his country's first ever goal ‌at the World Cup finals.

Uruguay ‌turned things around before half-time, however, when Maxi Araujo pounced on a rebound to equalise with ⁠a header before he set up Agustin Canobbio with another header to make it 2-1 at the break.

Cape Verde substitute Helio Varela struck two minutes after coming on in the second half when he pounced ‌on Mathias Olivera's loose back pass in ​no man's land, drawing the ‌goalkeeper off his line ⁠to fire into an empty net.

Helio Varela is mobbed by teammates after scoring for Cape Verde (Getty)
Helio Varela is mobbed by teammates after scoring for Cape Verde (Getty)

Both ⁠teams are on two points behind group leaders Spain, ‌who have ​four points heading ‌into the final round ​of games.

additional reporting by Reuters

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