Cape Verde tie Uruguay to continue captivating World Cup journey

Helio Valera scored the tying goal after collecting a loose ball to allow Cape Verde to play Uruguay to a 2-2 tie on Sunday in World Cup Group H play at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Kevin Pina also scored for Cape Verde (0-0-2, 2 points), who are participating in their first World Cup.

Maxi Araujo had one goal and one assist for Uruguay (0-0-2, 2 points). Agustin Canobbio also found the back of the net.

Cape Verde knotted the score in the 61st minute on the horribly bad misplay by Uruguay.

The ball was inbounded to Mathias Olivera in the Uruguay end and he sent a lazy left-footed bouncing pass to his right. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera frantically charged forward out of the box while Valera was in fast pursuit for Cape Verde.

Valera won the chase, got by Muslera and easily sent a right-footed shot into the open net to tie it at 2.

Uruguay had two big chances late in the match.

First, Federico Valverde sent a right-footed free kick over the right corner of the net in the 90th minute. Then Canobbio went on a run in the third minute of second-half stoppage time but sent a right-footed blast over the net.

Both teams remain in contention to advance out of group play.

Uruguay will play first-place Spain (1-0-1, 4 points) on Friday outside Guadalajara, Mexico.

Cape Verde will oppose Saudi Arabia (0-1-1, 1 point) on Friday in Houston.

Uruguay outshot Cape Verde 17-12 but Cape Verde put four on target to Uruguay's two.

Cape Verde moved ahead in the 21st minute when it received a free kick after Uruguay's Rodrigo Bentancur drew a yellow card for a trip outside the box.

Pina took the kick from more than 30 yards out and drilled a right-footed blast between two Uruguay defenders and into the lower right corner of the net. It was the first World Cup goal in Cape Verde history.

Uruguay overcame the deficit with two goals late in the first half.

First, Bentancur hit a header off the right goalpost and it bounced into the area in front of the net, and Araujo knocked in a diving header to tie it in the 44th minute.

Araujo was involved again when Uruguay went ahead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. Manuel Ugarte began the sequence with a cross and Araujo headed the ball to the foot of Canobbio, who tapped in a right-footer past Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha for a 2-1 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media