Cape Verde Stuns Portugal in Historic World Cup Victory
In an astonishing upset on Tuesday in Estoril, Cape Verde triumphed 2-0 over Portugal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, securing their first-ever win over their former colonizer. The Blue Sharks made history by overcoming Portugal, who had previously defeated them 4-1 in 2006 and held them to a goalless draw in 2010.
The victory was made even more remarkable by the fact that it came on Portuguese soil, despite a reshuffled Seleção squad. For the first time, Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was called up to protect Portugal’s goal, but his debut was far from a serene one. Lopes was caught off guard when Odaïr Fortes lobbed the ball over him to give Cape Verde a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.
Just five minutes later, the Blue Sharks doubled their advantage. A free kick from Heldon was met by Gêgê, who calmly pushed the ball into the back of the net, sending the Cape Verdean players and fans into raptures. Portugal struggled to get back into the game, and Cape Verde’s defense held strong.
The second half saw more drama. In the 60th minute, André Pinto was sent off for a foul on Cape Verde’s captain, who was through on goal, compounding Portugal’s frustrations and adding a sense of magic to Cape Verde’s historic feat.
Despite the numerical advantage, Portugal failed to break down Cape Verde’s disciplined defense, as the Blue Sharks held on for a momentous victory that will go down in their footballing history.
Starting Lineups:
Portugal: Anthony, Cédric, Pinto, Antunes, Oliveira, Adrien, Bernardo, Gomes, Mário, Almeida, Vieirinha
Cape Verde: Vózinha, Jeffrey, Varela, Gêgê, Nivaldo, Nuno, Semedo, Júlio, Platini, Odaïr, Héldon
The win, which marks a turning point in Cape Verde’s footballing history, ensures that they can now look forward to future encounters with confidence. Watch the highlights of this unforgettable match here: Video
