Spain 0-0 Cape Verde: Goalless draw sees Cape crusaders put a heroic dent in Spain’s hopes

Cape Verde got their debut FIFA World Cup campaign off to a remarkable start, holding Spain to a 0-0 draw that sets the stage for an intriguing Group H. Incredibly, the team that was ranked second in the world at kick-off have now won just one of their last seven games at the finals, with their pre-tournament status among the favourites already in major doubt.

Match Highlight

https://www.fifa.com/en/watch/jLS5YXPMr0XAd5lMHtbiJ

Match Report

The match quickly settled into its expected pattern, as Cape Verde frustrated Spain with sheer numbers behind the ball, and the heavily fancied side struggled to create anything of note in the early exchanges. Roberto 'Pico' Lopes, who boasts 351 appearances for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland, did well to repel one of the more dangerous deliveries into the box, as the 2010 WC champions looked short on ideas. 

Dailon Livramento even felt emboldened to take on an audacious effort from the halfway line as the first period wore on, although Luis de la Fuente’s side very nearly took the lead as HT approached. Ferran Torres somehow struck the crossbar from very close range after Marc Cucurella had nodded the ball back across goal, and then Mikel Oyarzabal was smartly denied on the follow-up by 40-year-old Vozinha, preserving the underdogs’ well-deserved parity at the break.

The second half began in much the same pattern, and all in attendance could sense the rising Spanish nerves, although a hopelessly miscued cross from Torres had a scrambling Vozinha fearing the most fortunate of breakthroughs. For long spells, a stroke of luck looked like the only way the deadlock could possibly be broken, with the Tubarões Azuis standing resolute in their defensive shape and rarely looking unduly troubled. 

A desperate De la Fuente turned to Lamine Yamal, who was a fitness doubt heading into this contest, and he instantly injected some quality and urgency into proceedings. Within moments, his work down the right presented fellow substitute Mikel Merino with a good opening, but Vozinha was behind it once again. Oyarzabal had the pick of the chances in the closing stages, but his effort was blocked heroically by Lopes, setting the island nation on their way to an exceptional point.

As the game moved into stoppage time, that almost turned into a scarcely-believable three, but Diney Borges’ powerful header from a corner was kept out by Unai Simón to prevent a total Spanish humiliation. Next up in Group H is Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia, where both sides will now feel as though things have been blown wide open after Spain’s major stutter. The one certainty is that nobody will be writing off Cape Verde any more, with their historic draw adding to an impressive record of six wins and a draw in their final seven qualifiers.

Match Events

15' Pedri had an opportunity from long range. His low shot was directed towards the middle of the goal, but Vozinha was alert and made a comfortable save

16' Sidny Lopes Cabral receives a yellow card from the referee

29' The ball sits up nicely on the edge of the box for Marc Cucurella, but his powerful first-time effort flies high over the bar

35' A rebound falls at the feet of Dailon Livramento who unleashes a shot from long range towards the goal. However, his effort is poor and it flies well wide of the left post

39' Ferran Torres sends a shot from the goal area straight onto the crossbar! Oyarzabal pounces on the rebound as he directs a header to the top of the net, but Vozinha pulls off a decent save to deny him

45' Ferran Torres fires a shot to the bottom left corner from a few yards out, but Vozinha reacts superbly to keep the ball out

45+2' Laporte outjumps the defence to meet the resulting corner and heads the ball towards the top left corner. The long-range header is not powerful enough, and the keeper comfortably makes a save

52' Fabian Ruiz collects a wonderful lead pass but his shot goes painfully close to the crossbar

71' Gavi and Fabian Ruiz are replaced Yamal and Merino

73' Merino collects a great pass inside the box and misses a golden opportunity

81' Olmo on, Ferran off

83' Cucurella receives a lofted pass and is given time inside the box to unleash a low shot goalwards, but Vozinha pulls off a comfortable save to thwart the effort

88' Oyarzabal hits a shot at goal that is inadvertently blocked by a defender

90'+2' Yellow Card! Pedri is booked

Line-ups

Spain XI: Laporte, Llorente, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Oyarzabal, Rodri, Ferran Torres, Pedri, Gavi, Cubarsi

Subs: Grimaldo, Iglesias, David Raya, Merino, Olmo, Eric Garcia, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Porro, Yeremy, Joan García, Nico Williams, Marc Pubill, Víctor Muñoz, Yamal

Cape Verde XI: Ryan Mendes, Roberto Lopes, Vozinha, Steven Moreira, Diney Borges, Laros Duarte, Jamiro Monteiro, Jovane Cabral, Kevin Lenini, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Dailon Livramento

Subs: Stopira, Garry Rodrigues, Da Costa, Márcio Rosa, Yannick Semedo, Deroy Duarte, CJ dos Santos, Willy Semedo, Logan Costa, João Paulo, Telmo Arcanjo, Kelvin Pires, Hélio Varela, Benchimol, Wagner Pina