Cape Verde impress again as they hold Uruguay to 2-2 draw

Cape Verde created fresh waves at the World Cup as they held two-time champions Uruguay to a 2-2 draw in a high-octane encounter in Miami. Kevin Pina hammered them ahead with a stunning free-kick before Uruguay hit back to lead at half-time. Substitute Hélio Varela's second-half goal after a defensive error was no less than Cape Verde deserved.

The African nation, who took a point off European champions Spain in their opener, will now fancy their chances of a place in the last 32 if they can beat or even draw with Saudi Arabia next Friday. Uruguay face an uphill task to qualify with Spain next for Marcelo Bielsa's men. Pina sparked wild celebrations after 20 minutes as his 30-yard free-kick driven low evaded Uruguay's two-man defensive wall and the left hand of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

They were a whisker away from a second when Sidny Cabral's cross required Muslera's fingertips to divert it away from Gilson Benchimol as he arrived at the far post to head home. Two goals just before the break though, turned the tide. First, Maxi Araújo headed in a rebound after Cabral headed against his own post under pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur, and in first-half injury time Agustin Canobbio cushioned in a second from close range after Araujo headed Manuel Ugarte's floated pass into his path.

Cape Verde bit back after an hour as Mathías Olivera's horribly miscued ball across his backline was intercepted by substitute Helio Varela, who knocked the ball to the side of Muslera then sidefooted home on the volley, in virtually his first act since coming on. Uruguay had a third disallowed for offside after a goalmouth scramble, and an end-to-end finish failed to yield a decisive third goal for either side as Cape Verde continued unbeaten on their finals debut.