The Cabo Verde fans in Miami were stunned into silence in the 68th minute. A low cross from the right caught the defence off guard and, as the ball ricocheted loose, goalkeeper Vozinha stretched to try and bring it under control. Maxi Araujo was challenging as well though, and in the scramble that followed the Uruguayan bundled into the net, seemingly for his second of the night.
Araujo had already set off at speed to celebrate when the gesture came that brought relief to the Cabo Verde fans - Norwegian referee Espen Eskas raised his right arm to signal offside.
Immediately, the stands started chanting Vozinha's name. The keeper had been the standout player in Cabo Verde’s opener against the mighty Spain, and he was called upon to produce another outstanding performance against another former world champion. And once again, he delivered as his side held Uruguay to a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
For one fan in particular, the emotions could hardly have been more intense. Vozinha’s mother Ana Candida Evora was in the stands to watch her son for the first time at this World Cup. She’s also witnessed him become a bright new star of world football, with an Instagram following that has gone from 50,000 to more than 15 million.
"It was so emotional. My heart was in my mouth. But today luck was on our side. Our hearts are with our country, with those who believed after the first game. We have faith. Faith and hope. I am proud of Cabo Verde," she told FIFA.
Ana Candida arrived in the United States two days before Cabo Verde’s second game. "I didn't even have a passport. It is the first time I have left Cabo Verde," she said.
"It’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I don't really have the words to describe it. He has been through so much. It’s hugely emotional, but he had a good game and he’ll do it again. You have to keep going right until the end.”
As he left the pitch, Vozinha seemed calm, but sounded physically and emotionally drained by one of the tournament’s most exciting matches to date.
"It is a dream come true for us and for all Cabo Verdeans. Being here to honour that is a joy," he said. ”What I saw out there today was a strong team with a really great attitude.”
Asked about his newfound fame, online at least, the veteran, who has just turned 40, smiled. "I have been trying to reply to the people closest to me and to friends, but I still haven't replied to everyone. It’s been crazy."
Indeed, when the starting lineups were introduced on the stadium screens in Miami, the goalkeeper received an even bigger cheer than Real Madrid’s multi-title-winning star Federico Valverde.
And following Uruguay’s two goals, the Cabo Verdean hero’s name rang out from the crowd in support. They also let out a huge "ole" when Vozinha dribbled past Maxi Araujo just minutes after the disallowed goal.
"It is incredible, because there was a huge crowd of Uruguay fans today. It felt like a home game for them, but even so we could hear the Cabo Verde fans really clearly," defender Pico Lopes told FIFA.
At half-time, with the South Americans leading 2-1, we spoke to some of those supporters. They may have been disappointed to have seen the game turn in Uruguay’s favour, but their feelings ran deeper than the scoreline.
“For such a small country, after fighting so hard to get here, it means everything, especially as we don’t have the resources that other countries have. But we’re all united here. Our mantra is to stand together, literally hand in hand, and go all the way,” said Rafael, a 29-year-old engineer who lives in Rhode Island. His voice was already very hoarse by half-time, and he admits that he might just have snuck a glance or two at the match against Spain while at work.
Claudio, 49, had coincidentally also travelled from Rhode Island, and was at his second World Cup match after attending Cabo Verde's opener in Atlanta.
"Qualifying for the World Cup is already a joy that cannot be described. Drawing with Spain and scoring a goal against Uruguay are like victories for us. If we leave here with another draw, we will leave happy," he said prophetically.
Pico Lopes could not have been more grateful for those words. "That says a lot about what we are doing. We are giving them reasons to cheer, and their support gives us that extra boost. They really are our 12th man. The motivation we feel from showing we can compete on the biggest stage is massive.”
The draw with Uruguay means Cabo Verde now sits in third place on two points in Group H, only trailing Marcelo Bielsa's side by one goal scored and still in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stage. Next up, for their third and decisive game, they will travel to Houston to take on Saudi Arabia.
Sources: FIFA Official
