Key events<\/p>\n
Belated lineup note: I believe I said there was only one change for Uruguay<\/a> from the opening game to today\u2019s game, but there are two. Cano, who just scored, is one of the newcomers, along with left back Sanabria. Out: defender Matias Vi\u00f1a and former Liverpool attacker Darwin Nu\u00f1ez.<\/p>\n Cano started this game in an ill temper and is very lucky not to have seen yellow by now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Halftime: Uruguay 2-1 Cape Verde<\/p>\n Uruguay must consider themselves fortunate here, but they\u2019ve also ruthlessly punished a couple of occasions in which the Cape Verde<\/a> defense looked several steps slower to react than they did against Spain.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Goal! Uruguay 2-1 Cape Verde (Cano 45 +6)<\/p>\n Cape Verde backs either needed to pull up to render Cano offside or stop Ara\u00fajo from getting a head to the ball to put it on a platter for his teammate. They do neither, and both Uruguayan goals have been tap-ins.<\/p>\n Uruguay\u2019s Agustin Canobbio scores the second. Photograph: Marco Bello\/ReutersCanobbio celebrates. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.07 EDT<\/p>\n Goal … maybe. Uruguay 2-1 Cape Verde if it stands<\/p>\n Either offside or run to perfection.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min +4 More possession and another diagonal ball into the penalty area for Uruguay<\/a>, cleared.<\/p>\n Another attempt, and Vi\u00f1as tries to run past a defender but only runs into his arm. Ouch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fourth official Tori Penso waves Arcanjo back onto the field with a pleasant smile, maybe even an apologetic smile. None of this makes sense to anyone outside of IFAB.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.49 EDT<\/p>\n The goal stands, play has resumed, Arcanjo is out, and because he took a while to leave the field, Cape Verde<\/a> aren\u2019t allowed to immediately replace him.<\/p>\n This new Law about leaving the field quickly needs to get the bugs ironed out. It\u2019s first-half stoppage time. He\u2019s not time-wasting.<\/p>\n Five minutes of stoppage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The play came back down the field so quickly that Vi\u00f1as was busy helping Arcanjo stretch out a cramp, then suddenly sprang into action upon seeing the ball headed back their way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Goal! Uruguay 1-1 Cape Verde (Ara\u00fajo 44)<\/p>\n Muslero quickly sends the ball up the field. After another pass, it lands in a trio of players \u2013 two Cape Verde<\/a>, one Uruguayan, and it bangs off the post. Vozinha has to slide over to be sure it doesn\u2019t go in, and the ball bounds back to Ara\u00fajo, who lowers his head and taps it in.<\/p>\n We have a VAR check.<\/p>\n Uruguay\u2019s Maxi Araujo heads in the equaliser. Photograph: Marco Bello\/Reuters Photograph: Paul Childs\/ReutersAraujo celebrates. Photograph: Carmen Mandato\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.56 EDT<\/p>\n 43 min A 75-yard shot! Cape Verde<\/a> finds Muslera off his line. It misses, and then \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min Benchimol tries to latch on to a through ball on the counter, but the danger is extinguished quickly, and Uruguay<\/a> reset.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min Uruguay get a bit impatient and lob the ball into the mixer, where it is recycled back out.<\/p>\n Arcanjo is down just outside the penalty arc and slow to get up. Play continues.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min Better for Uruguay<\/a>. Good cross from the right, past the goal mouth to Maxi Ara\u00fajo, who rises for a header 8 yards from goal and puts it high.<\/p>\n Still nothing on target for Uruguay, but give Ara\u00fajo three chances at that, and surely one is problematic for Cape Verde<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min Chance for Cape Verde! Lopes Cabral with the half-shot, half-cross, and as it starts to curl back toward the onrusing Benchimol, Muslera leaps to push it aside for a corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 min Cape Verde attacker fouled \u2026 or not? What constitutes a foul these days? If I let that go in a youth game, I\u2019d have parents yelling at me that they\u2019re going to take their kids off the field.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min Cano again clatters into Lopes Cabral, who rolls around the ground. Theatrics, perhaps, but how exactly does Cano not have a persistent infringement yellow at this point?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min Caceres lashes a shot from 30 yards. It skips past the far post. That probably wouldn\u2019t have troubled Vozinha.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min Uruguay can\u2019t find a way through. They still haven\u2019t forced a save, let alone 15 of them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 min Uruguay<\/a> slowing things down now \u2013 not a bad idea, given the heat and humidity.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min Vozinha does a rugby-style free kick, knocking it out of play as far down the field as possible. That\u2019s twice now, so perhaps it\u2019s intentional?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min Monteiro falls, no call, falls again, no call. This World Cup<\/a> hasn\u2019t been quite as strict on fouls as previous competitions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n During the hydration break, let\u2019s marvel over the fact that Cape Verde<\/a> now have one World Cup goal in their history.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, youth soccer coaches everywhere are planning to use that highlight to show players what NOT to do in a wall. The two Uruguayans simply moved slightly away from each other, and Pina shot it through the gap. If that was intentional, it was brilliant.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It looked like Lopes Cabral was going to take the shot, as if taking revenge for all the fouls against him. But it was Pina who stepped up to take it.<\/p>\n Pina<\/a>Share<\/a>Goal! Uruguay 0-1 Cape Verde (Pina 21)<\/p>\n Are you kidding me?<\/p>\n Pina threads it between the knees of the two players in the wall who failed to stick together, and Muslera has no chance.<\/p>\n Cape Verde\u2019s Pina drills in the ball from 25 yards. Photograph: Paul Childs\/ReutersPina celebrates. Photograph: Paul Childs\/Reuters Photograph: Lynne Sladky\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.34 EDT<\/p>\n 20 min Yellow to Uruguay as Arcanjo slips past Bentancur, who trips the onrushing Cape Verde<\/a> midfielder. Free kick from 25 \u2026 maybe 28 yards. Or 26 or 27.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 min Lopes Cabral is fouled again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min Vozinha confidently collects the cross from the corner. He tries to go long with his distribution but sends it out of play.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min Uruguay attack quickly on the left and play the ball into the box, cleared for a corner. Still \u2013 pressure, but no serious chances.<\/p>\n Uruguay’s Sebastian Caceres heads clear. Photograph: Lynne Sladky\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.20 EDT<\/p>\n 15 min Cape Verde attackers run into each other, and Uruguay go on the break. Valverde drags his shot well wide of the far post and knows he could\u2019ve done better.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 min A touch for Vozinha, who catches an arcing pass like an outfielder in baseball. Hasn\u2019t been put to work yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min A rare foray forward for Cape Verde<\/a>, but it leads only to a misplayed cross.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.13 EDT<\/p>\n 12 min Another Uruguay<\/a> corner accomplishes little, and they end up hitting a hopeful ball forward that sails out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min Good diagonal ball to the left flank for Uruguay that\u2019s clipped back for a close-range header that slams into the shoulder of a Cape Verde<\/a> defender.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s explain the multiple reasons why that wasn\u2019t a handball:<\/p>\n 1. There was an offside call in the buildup.<\/p>\n 2. The shot hit the player at close range, and the arm was in a natural position.<\/p>\n 3. The shot hit the shoulder. Not lower on the arm.<\/p>\n Everyone got that? Good.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9 min Uruguay are playing like Uruguay. Sharp short passes. Good movement. No chances created yet, but this will be nervy for Cape Verde<\/a>, especially as they\u2019re playing with four at the back and leaving someone open on the opposite flank.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7 min Cape Verde get several attempts to clear this ball, but they don\u2019t get it out of there.<\/p>\n Cano is again annoyed for some reason.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min Corner kick to Uruguay<\/a> after a clinical rapid attack up the left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min The referee is putting a stop to this nonsense now. Lopes Cabral is very late to a challenge and picks up yellow, which means we will not see him in the third match of the group stage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min Cano is down, having received a small shove from Borges that, if his reaction is to be believed, dislocated several vertebrae.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min Lopes Cabral is judo-tossed again. What\u2019d he do to deserve this?<\/p>\n Reminder \u2013 a yellow card for persistent infringement can be awarded even if different guys are fouling the same person.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min Cano mugs Lopes Cabral in an effort to get to a ball played across the field. The referee believes that is not allowed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Peep!<\/p>\n We\u2019re off. Uruguay in their pleasant blue and white. Cape Verde<\/a> in all red.<\/p>\n Cape Verde\u2019s Garry Rodrigues competes for the ball against Manuel Ugarte and Guillermo Varela of Uruguay. Photograph: Lars Baron\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.10 EDT<\/p>\n I very much like the Cape Verde<\/a> national anthem. I\u2019ll see if my band can open our next show with it, though this rendition has the odd tempo change that would probably throw us off.<\/p>\n Pregame ceremonies are moving swiftly, so kickoff should be on time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More match facts<\/p>\n Venue: Miami Stadium. You might know it as Hard Rock Stadium, but not on this occasion.<\/p>\n Weather: Don\u2019t complain about the hydration break in this one. It\u2019s hot \u2013 31 degrees Celsius or 88 degrees Fahrenheit \u2013 and humid (68%).<\/p>\n Referee: Espen Esk\u00e5s leads a Norwegian crew, with ARs Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Bashevkin. The fourth official and reserve officials are two of the outstanding crew of US women that handled the Czechia-South Africa game \u2013 Tori Penso and Brooke Mayo. The lead in the VAR room is Willy Delajod, joined by fellow Frenchman Jerome Brisard and Dennis Higler of the Netherlands.<\/p>\n Jose Mourinho once labeled Esk\u00e5s \u201carrogant,\u201d which many people would likely take as a compliment. That was after the then-Fenerbahce manager believed his team had three penalties denied as they exited the Europa League at the hands of Rangers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The combined population of these two nations is around 4 million, with Uruguay having about 3.4 million and Cape Verde<\/a> around 525,000.<\/p>\n That makes this the smallest population represented in any group-stage game. Only Cura\u00e7ao (185,000) is smaller than Cape Verde, and their group-stage opponents (Germany, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire and Ecuador) are all considerably bigger than Uruguay<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, let\u2019s check in on the top 10 countries in population to see how they\u2019re doing:<\/p>\n India \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n China \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n United States \u2013 doing OK so far<\/p>\n Indonesia \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n Pakistan \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n Nigeria \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n Brazil \u2013 leading Group C<\/p>\n Bangladesh \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n Russia \u2013 suspended from competition<\/p>\n Ethiopia \u2013 did not qualify<\/p>\n The next few countries made it, at least.<\/p>\n Cape Verde\u2019s goalkeeper Vozinha warms up at the Miami Stadium Photograph: Chandan Khanna\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.55 EDT<\/p>\n Starting XIs<\/p>\n Uruguay<\/p>\n Muslera; Sanabria, Olivera, Caceres, Varela; Bentancur, Ugarte, Ara\u00fajo, Valverde, Cano; Vi\u00f1as<\/p>\n The single change from their lineup that started their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia: Agustin Cano (Fluminense) replaces Vi\u00f1a (River Plate). Defender Ronald Ara\u00fajo has been battling injury and misses the starting XI again \u2013 that\u2019s Maxi Ara\u00fajo, the goal-scorer in the opener, in the starting midfield.<\/p>\n Cape Verde<\/p>\n Dias (\u201cVozinha\u201d); Lopes Cabral, Borges (\u201cDiney\u201d), Lopes (\u201cPico\u201d), Moreira; Pina, Rodrigues, Monteiro, Mendes, Arcanjo; Tavares (\u201cBenchimol\u201d)<\/p>\n Telmo Arcanjo cracks the starting lineup after a brief stint as a substitute against Spain. Gilson \u201cBenchimol\u201d Tavares also is in, along with 35-year-old midfielder Garry Rodrigues, neither of whom figured in the first game. Out: Jovane Cabral, Laros Duarte, Dailon Livramento.<\/p>\n Rodriguez was the first Dutch-born player to represent Cape Verde, starting in 2013. Benchimol had a hat trick against Liechtenstein in 2022.<\/p>\n The Uruguay players warm up in Miami. Photograph: Crist\u00f3bal Herrera\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.35 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Paradoxically, this World Cup<\/a> has been the year of high scores \u2013 the average number of goals per game is a little above 3.0, a number not seen since the 1950s \u2013 and the year of the goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Eloy Room of Cura\u00e7ao wowed Cup-watchers with 15 saves, the most in a 90-minute match since modern record-keeping started (Tim Howard had 16 in an extra-time game to become the most meme-worthy person in the USA for a while).<\/p>\n Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand posted a save<\/a> that will rival the legendary Gordon Banks save against Pele<\/a> in the just-concluded game against Belgium.<\/p>\n And Cape Verde<\/a> goalkeeper Josimar Dias, better known as \u201cVozinha,\u201d has become an international superstar after slamming the door on Spain.<\/p>\n Vozinha<\/a><\/p>\n Will Uruguay<\/a> manage a way past Vozinha? Will Cape Verde manage a goal of their own? Did you expect to be contemplating such questions a month ago?<\/p>\n Contemplate for the next couple of hours right here \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s what to know about Uruguay and Cape Verde<\/a> before they meet in a few hours in Miami.<\/p>\n Uruguay<\/p>\n Marcelo Bielsa has left his indelible mark on this Uruguay team. His 4-3-3 system is built for direct football, allowing his side to press their opponents high up the field and chase the ball at all times. There is no letup in attacking when Uruguay have possession.<\/p>\n Ignacio Alonso, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, set the target: \u201cUruguay have to aspire to be in the world\u2019s top 10 and therefore we have to reach the quarter-finals.\u201d Alonso also addressed concerns over Uruguay\u2019s form. \u201cBielsa is very excited for the World Cup<\/a>,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s got his mind focused on the preparations. His objective is to have a great World Cup. It\u2019s his aspiration, the result of all his work, research and preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n Cape Verde<\/p>\n