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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Lawrence Ostlere

REVEALED: Cape verde pull off second stunning world cup upset as uruguay held to dramatic draw - The Real Truth

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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