Cape Verde have pulled off another historic World Cup shock and this time the mother of their 40-year-old goalkeeper got to watch it from the stands at Miami Stadium.
After earning a draw against Spain in their first Group H match, it was revealed that Ana Candida Evora, the mother of Cape Verde ‘keeper Vozinha, had been unable to travel to America to watch her son play, the $15,000 bond needed to get a US visa proving too expensive.
But after authorities granted her paperwork to travel to Florida, she stood in the stands for the Cape Verde national anthem, sang with her hand over her heart and finally got to watch her son play in just their country’s second-ever World Cup game.
Evora has become a star herself, having given interviews about Cape Verde’s incredible point against Spain in their first game and her faith that Vozinha would keep out Lamine Yamal and his superstar team-mates.
Against Uruguay, Kevin Pina gave the underdogs a shock lead with a long-range free-kick before the South Americans fought back, scoring twice before the break. However, Hélio Varela levelled in the 61st minute to snatch another incredible draw.
Playing against the first winners of the World Cup in 1930, Cape Verde again put history and reputation to one side with a stunning opening goal in the 21st minute.
With Uruguay’s defensive wall inviting Pina to shoot from 30 yards, the midfielder, who plays in Russia with Krasnodar, tried his luck and drilled the ball into the bottom corner. Some pundits have seen the World Cup “Trionda” ball move unpredictably in the air, but this free-kick arrowed straight into the bottom corner.
Stunned by Pina’s long-range effort, Uruguay then equalised controversially. Striker Federico Viñas was tending to Cape Verde’s Telmo Arcanjo but left his opponent on the floor when the South Americans started an attack. Seconds later, he played a part in Maxi Araújo levelling.
Araújo then set up Agustín Canobbio’s goal to put Uruguay ahead, cushioning a header into his team-mate’s path.
But Cape Verde tore up the World Cup script again through Varela’s strike in the second half to send a small nation, and Vozinha’s mother, into rapture.