World Cup – Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde, Pina breaks the deadlock and Varela scores.

In the second round of Group H matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay and Cape Verde faced off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA. After 90 minutes of intense play, the two sides ultimately drew 2-2.

Uruguay took the initiative early in the first half. In the 13th minute, Agustin Canobbio broke through the middle and delivered a precise diagonal pass, but Federico Valverde's low shot from the left side of the penalty area went just wide. However, it was actually the slightly weaker Cape Verde who scored first: in the 20th minute, Kevin Pina took a free kick from 30 meters out and slotted it home, leaving Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera unable to make the save.

Trailing by one goal, Uruguay launched a furious counter-attack. In the 27th minute, Pina's header clearance in the penalty area nearly gifted a goal, but Valverde's shot went over the crossbar. In the 43rd minute, Manuel Ugarte delivered a cross from the left wing at a 45-degree angle, and Rodrigo Bentancur's close-range effort forced Sylni Cabral to head the ball into his own net. Although Voznia and the post managed to keep the danger at bay, Maxi Araujo, lurking in the penalty area, immediately headed the ball into his own net to equalize.

In the 5th minute of first-half stoppage time, Araujo headed the ball across the box from the left, and Canobbio slotted it home to extend Uruguay's lead to 2-1 at halftime.

The second half began with both sides switching ends. In the 60th minute, Uruguay's defense made a fatal mistake: Matias Oliveira's blind cross was successfully intercepted by Elio Varela, and Muslera's attempt to rush out of his goal was easily evaded. With Varela slotting the ball into the empty net, the two sides were back on equal footing.

Both teams then traded attacks, but neither could change the score. In the 68th minute, Araujo capitalized on a scramble in front of the Cape Verde goal to score, but the shot was disallowed for offside. In the 86th minute, Brian Rodriguez's corner kick from the left was headed towards goal by Bentancur at the near post, but the shot was blocked by a defender. In the 89th minute, Uruguay won a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Valverde's direct shot hit the stands. In the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, Ryan Mendes crossed from the right into the penalty area, and the unmarked Deroy Duarte's low shot was saved by Muslera.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw between Uruguay and Cape Verde. Uruguay currently sits second in Group H with 2 points from 2 draws, while Cape Verde is third due to a worse goal difference.

Image source: Internet