Cape Verde pulled off one of many greatest shocks in World Cup historical past because the African debutants held event favourites Spain to a goalless attract Atlanta.
One of many greatest mismatches in soccer historical past has produced one of many greatest outcomes, with Cape Verde the third-smallest nation to ever compete in a World Cup – however they confirmed the largest coronary heart.
Among the many heroes included 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who performed in Portugal’s second division final season and made 4 excellent stops.
He tipped over Mikel Oyarazabal’s header, saved low from Ferran Torres’ close-range effort, tipped Aymeric Laporte’s goalbound header across the nook after which denied Mikel Merino and Marc Cucurella from contained in the field late on.
Second to Vozinha to man of the match was Shamrock Rovers’ Pico Lopes – who denied Oyarazabal with a shocking last-ditch block on 88 minutes to disclaim a sure winner.
Cape Verde may have even gained it as Diney Borges was discovered unmarked at a late, uncommon nook – just for it to be blocked into goalkeeper Unai Simon’s path.
However Spain have been additionally poor and wasteful, with Torres lacking a first-half sitter by hitting the bar from six yards. Even after sending on Lamine Yamal from the bench, Spain couldn’t discover a solution.
Spain’s Ferran Torres missed a sitter from six yards
It’s fairly merely a soccer outcome that may reverberate around the globe.
The important thing moments from Atlanta…
- 31: The time it took for Spain’s beginning striker Mikel Oyarzabal to the touch the ball for the primary time – highlighting how limp Spain have been in opposition to a stoic Cape Verde defence.
- 39: WHAT A MISS! Torres someway fails to transform from six yards out by hitting the bar. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha then beautifully ideas the rebound from Oyarzabal over.
- 45: WHAT A SAVE! Vozinha will get down low to disclaim a goalbound Torres shot from contained in the field.
- 45+3: ANOTHER STOP! Laporte’s header is turned across the submit by the 40-year-old goalkeeper.
- 70: After exhibiting little in assault, Yamal lastly comes on for his return from harm.
- 73: Yamal had a direct affect, teeing up Marcos Llorente who squared for fellow substitute Merino, who was denied by Vozinha once more.
- 82: Cucurella is discovered on the again submit however can solely fireplace straight at Vozinha.
- 88: Oyazarbal had a close-range effort splendidly blocked over the bar by Cape Verde defender Lopes.
- 90+1: Borges NEARLY wins it for Cape Verde however cannot convert at a nook.
The stats that disgrace Spain
- Spain had 27 photographs on this match with out discovering the web, their joint most on document since 1966 in a FIFA World Cup match with out scoring, together with their 27 makes an attempt in opposition to Paraguay in 1998, additionally a 0-0 draw.
- Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal is the primary participant on document since 1966 to play the primary half-hour of a World Cup match with out touching the ball as soon as.
- Spain tried 12 photographs within the first half in opposition to Cape Verde; solely in opposition to Switzerland in 1966 (14) have that they had extra photographs in a primary half with out scoring within the competitors (since 1966 onwards).
- Cape Verde have accomplished simply 14 passes within the opposition’s half on this match, the joint-lowest determine of any facet in a half of soccer on the World Cup on Opta document (since 1966).
- Spain have had 49 photographs and accomplished precisely 2,500 passes since they final scored a purpose within the FIFA World Cup within the eleventh minute in opposition to Japan in 2022.
- Spain have didn’t win of their final 4 video games within the FIFA World Cup, their final joint longest winless streak was from twenty fifth June 1982 to 1st June 1986.
- Forty-year-old Vozinha made seven saves for Cape Verde on this match – since 1966, the one goalkeeper aged 40+ to make extra saves in a FIFA World Cup sport was Pat Jennings on his forty first birthday for Northern Eire in opposition to Brazil in 1986 (10).
- At 40 years and 12 days, Vozinha is the oldest participant to make an look in a nation’s debut FIFA World Cup sport, breaking Eloy Room’s document set simply yesterday for Curaçao (37 years, 182 days). Solely Egypt’s Essam El Hadary (45 years, 161 days) has been older when making his World Cup debut than Vozinha at this time.
