\n<\/p>\n
Written off by pundits going into their match against Uruguay – Williams and Benni McCarthy on BBC One both predicted they would lose – Cape Verde refused to follow the script.<\/p>\n
A gift led to the second goal which drew the scores level, but Helio Varela did well regardless to produce a deft touch to take the ball past the stranded Muslera before stroking it into the back of the net.<\/p>\n
After that, Cape Verde showed the defensive strength that made the difference against Spain to be able to hold on to a point.<\/p>\n
They made sure to combine it with their attacking threat, though, and continued to hunt for a way to snatch three points.<\/p>\n
It was a performance which led former South Africa striker McCarthy to say he has a “new lease of respect” for Cape Verde, and ex-Wales defender Williams to claim it was the “most entertaining” game he has covered at the World Cup so far.<\/p>\n
“They really came out to play,” said McCarthy. “They were sensational. I thought they were brave.<\/p>\n
“The only thing that’s needed is working on their final-third entry, that composure, working on those decisions in the final moment of the game. I think they’ve won a lot of people’s hearts after this performance.”<\/p>\n
One Cape Verde fan told BBC Sport at a fan park in the US that “everybody doubted us, everybody thought we weren’t going to make it. We’re here now”.<\/p>\n
Such a reaction captures the feeling currently surrounding Cape Verde, who are fast becoming one of the best stories of this year’s World Cup. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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