SOCCER: Brave Cape Verde hold Uruguay to 2-2 draw in World Cup

MIAMI — Uruguay and Cape Verde played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in their second Group H match of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday, as the tournament debutants matched the South American side in a fast-paced, end-to-end contest.

Cape Verde, who opened their campaign with a surprise 0-0 draw against Spain, struck first in the 21st minute. After Telmo Arcanjo earned a free kick following a surging run, Kevin Pina stepped up and delivered a low, powerful strike from long range to score Cape Verde’s first-ever goal at a World Cup finals.

Uruguay responded before halftime. Maxi Araujo leveled the match by finishing from close range after a rebound, then turned provider moments later with a well-placed header assist for Agustín Canobbio, who made it 2-1 before the break.

Cape Verde regrouped in the second half and equalized almost immediately after the restart. Substitute Hélio Varela capitalized on a defensive error, intercepting a loose back pass from Mathías Olivera before calmly finishing into an open net after drawing the goalkeeper out of position.

Both sides pushed for a late winner, but neither could find a breakthrough as they settled for a share of the points. Uruguay and Cape Verde now sit on two points each, trailing group leaders Spain, who have four points heading into the final round of group matches. -Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters