HOUSTON — Cape Verde completed an incredible group stage run by drawing its third straight World Cup draw and becoming the smallest nation to earn a spot in the World Cup knockout stages after a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night.
The small island nation off the west coast of Africa, which will make its debut on the game’s grandest stage, had already beaten 2010 champions Spain 0-0 before coming from behind to claim a 2-2 result against Uruguay.
Cape Verde’s three points put the team in second place behind Spain, who beat Uruguay on Friday night to win the group.
Cape Verde celebrates
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Cape Verde will play defending world champions Argentina in Miami on July 3.
On the eve of the match, Cape Verdean coach Bubista reflected: “Everyone has the right to dream and nothing is impossible.”
The Blue Sharks proved him right by overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds as the country of just over 500,000 reached the last 16.
A woman with an archipelago flag painted on her face held a sign that read: “Small islands, big dreams.”
A dream that these underdogs have turned into reality as they continue their charming journey on the world stage.
They did so thanks to another strong performance from Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper whose tournament success has helped him amass more than 16 million Instagram followers.
He made a save in first-half stoppage time to deny Mohamed Kanno’s header to keep Saudi Arabia scoreless. Another save came in the 66th minute when he dived to deny Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat. The third came in the 92nd minute when he stopped Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s shot.
Cape Verde had a chance to score in the 50th minute, but Kevin Pina’s long-range shot went just over the crossbar. Another chance came in the 74th minute when goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais stopped Laros Duarte’s shot from the center of the penalty area.
The last chance to score came in the final seconds when Nuno da Costa fired a shot from the middle of the penalty area to the left.
But it didn’t matter because a couple of minutes after the final whistle, Spain beat Uruguay and set off a joyful celebration among the Cape Verdean players and fans, many of whom were crying and cheering.