World Cup debutants Cape Verde continues fairy-tale run to knockouts - BERITAJA

The fairy-tale for Cape Verde continues arsenic the tourney debutants proceeds to the knockout stage.

Cape Verde, located disconnected the seashore of West Africa pinch a organization of conscionable complete 500,000, entered the Cup arsenic the smallest federation pinch possibly the slightest prospects, and showed the world successful an exhilarating capacity that it’s a unit to beryllium reckoned with.

Friday’s match-up pinch Saudi Arabia resulted successful a 0-0 draw, and immoderate crisp saves from Cape Verde’s side.

After the last whistle, alternatively of celebrating, the squad circled up about phones awaiting the consequence of Spain’s faceoff pinch Uruguay.

Moments later, its dream came true: Spain won 1-0, meaning Cape Verde vanished successful 2nd spot successful Group H, securing its spot successful the information of 32.

Firas al-Buraikan of Saudi Arabia successful action during the lucifer betwixt Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia astatine Houston Stadium, connected Friday. Hakan Akgun / Anadolu via Getty Images

The Houston stadium exploded pinch thundering applause, fans successful bluish jerseys and cheeks painted pinch the Cape Verdean emblem cheering pinch joy.

Goalie Josmiar “Vozinha” Dias’ mother was seen dancing, wearing her son’s pinkish jersey, successful the stands.

Dailon Livramento #19 and Vozinha #1 of Cape Verde observe aft the 0-0 draw.Francois Nel / Getty Images

Their communicative captured the hearts of fans crossed the world aft Cape Verde’s stunning opening crippled against Spain, wherever Dias stonewalled the Spanish. That crippled skyrocketed him to fame from immoderate 50,000 to nearly 10 cardinal Instagram followers in a day. (He’s now astatine about 17 million.)

Afterward, successful an affectional interview, he shared his heartbreak connected his mother being incapable to be owed to visa costs issues. U.S. officials later waived her visa fees and she reunited pinch Vozinha astatine his Miami match against Uruguay.

Cape Verde is the first World Cup debutant to beforehand to the knockout shape since Slovakia successful 2010. The federation joins a cohort of respective African nations advancing to the information of 32, joining Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa.

Now, Cape Verde will look the defending champion, Argentina.