- Full Time
- Pedri93'
- Nico Williams on for Rodri87'
- Dani Olmo on for Ferran Torres81'
- 79'Telmo Arcanjo on for Jamiro Monteiro
- 76'João Paulo on for Sidny Cabral
- Lamine Yamal on for Gavi71'
- Mikel Merino on for Fabián Ruiz71'
- 61'Nuno da Costa on for Dailon Livramento
- 61'Deroy Duarte on for Laros Duarte
- 61'Willy Semedo on for Jovane Cabral
- Half Time
- 16'Sidny Cabral
- Kick Off
-
1
Mikel Oyarzabal5 - 2Fabián Ruiz5
- 3Ferran Torres4
- 1
Jamiro Monteiro3 - 2Diney Borges2
- 3Pedri2
Cape Verde shocked the world by holding European Champions and tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.
Incredible performances from Irish-born defender Pico Lopes and 40 year old keeper Vozinha earned the tiny archipelagic nation a famous draw that will go down in history in their first ever World Cup match.
After a slow start, the game finally seemed to find some life when Vozinha parried over a terrific Pedri volley – although the flag later went up as Marc Cucurella had strayed offside in the build-up.
A moment later, and Spain had their best chance of the first-half. Cucurella again pulled a header back across goal for a guilt-edged chance for Ferran Torres – but the Barcelona man’s volley crashed back off the crossbar. Oyarzabal’s follow-up header drew another smart stop from the Cape Verde keeper.
Vozinha’s excellent half wasn’t over yet though. He produced two more key saves in injury time of the first period, getting down well to his right to thwart Pedri once again before tipping wide an Aymeric Laporte header.
Unsurprisingly, the pressure continued into the second half. Fabian Ruiz had a long-range effort fly over the bar while a miscued Mikel Oyarzabal cross almost caught out Vozinha at his near post.
Lamine Yamal’s introduction during the second-half hydration break provided a spark for la Roja, with a chance falling to Mikel Merino just moments later. The Arsenal man scuffed his shot from inside the box.
Indeed, Cape Verde had the best chance of injury time, Diney Borges rising highest from a corner but Unai Simon was equal to his powerful header.
This result will go down as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and now all eyes will be on how the favourites respond in their remaining Group H fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
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