Cape Verde holds Uruguay 2-2 in Miami as Kevin Pina scores historic World Cup goal
Cape Verde held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in Miami, with Kevin Pina netting the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal; a win over Saudi Arabia would secure progression.
Cape Verde holds Uruguay to draw and remains unbeaten
Cape Verde extended its surprise run at the World Cup by drawing 2-2 with two-time champion Uruguay in Miami. The result leaves the island nation unbeaten after their opening 0-0 against Spain and gives them a realistic path to the knockout stage. The match was played in front of 64,003 spectators and saw dramatic momentum swings before the final whistle. Cape Verde’s performance drew praise for its organisation and belief against a seasoned South American side.
Pina’s historic strike and late Uruguay response
Kevin Pina opened the scoring in the 21st minute, recording the first World Cup goal in Cape Verde’s history and putting his team ahead early. Uruguay fought back just before half-time as Maxi Araujo levelled in the 44th minute and Agustin Canobbio struck in added time of the first half to turn the match. Cape Verde did not relent, however, and Helio Varela capitalised on a defensive lapse to restore parity in the 61st minute. The equaliser underscored Cape Verde’s resilience and denied Uruguay a late victory.
Group status and the decisive Saudi Arabia fixture
Both Cape Verde and Uruguay now sit on two points in the group, setting up a decisive final round of fixtures. Cape Verde can clinch progression outright with a win against Saudi Arabia in their last group game, a match scheduled for Saturday at 02:00 CEST. Uruguay will face Spain in their final group match, leaving both South American hopes and Cape Verde’s fate to be settled on the last matchday. A victory for the islanders would complete an extraordinary tournament arc that began with a shock goalless draw against European champions Spain.
Germany awaits diagnosis on Nico Schlotterbeck
Meanwhile, Germany faced fresh concern after defender Nico Schlotterbeck sustained a left-foot injury in the national team’s 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Team officials said there was no definitive diagnosis the day after the match and that further information would be provided at the squad’s base in Winston-Salem. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann is unable to call up an additional player for the tournament, meaning a prolonged absence would force Germany to proceed with the current roster. Should Schlotterbeck be ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup, the squad would effectively continue with 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.
Salah steers Egypt to first World Cup win
Egypt recorded its first ever win at a World Cup finals, beating New Zealand 3-1 with Mohamed Salah central to the victory. New Zealand had taken an early lead through Finn Surman in the 14th minute, but Mostafa Ziko equalised for Egypt in the 58th minute to level the match. Salah then converted in the 67th minute and later set up substitute Trézéguet for the third goal in the 82nd minute, sealing a deserved comeback. The win, witnessed by 52,497 fans, moves Egypt closer to qualifying for the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Belgium held to goalless draw as red card and pitch incident mar proceedings
Belgium were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in Los Angeles, leaving the 2018 third-place side still seeking a first victory in the tournament. The match took a turn in the 66th minute when Nathan Ngoy received a straight red for a last-man challenge, forcing Belgium to finish with ten men. Thibaut Courtois produced a string of important saves to secure a point for his side, a result mirrored by Iran’s defensive discipline. The fixture was further marred after full-time by a security incident in which a fan attempting to enter the pitch was removed; the individual reportedly wore a banned pre-revolution Iranian flag and was detained by stadium authorities.
Cape Verde’s draw with Uruguay has reshaped the group dynamics and elevated the island nation’s expectations heading into the final matchday. Their historic scoring breakthrough and unbeaten run have turned a modest debut into a tournament storyline, while other groups continue to produce late twists and off-field controversies that will influence qualification scenarios across the competition.
