Cape Verde’s Historic World Cup Journey Ends Against Argentina
Miami Gardens, Fla. — All that Vozinha wanted out of this World Cup was for his mother to see him play. He got that — and so much more. Despite failing to win a match, the African team’s debut at the World Cup was unforgettable, thanks largely to the 40-year-old goalkeeper who nearly engineered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Cape Verde’s magical ride ended Friday in the Round of 32, with the Blue Sharks falling to Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina, as most expected. Final score: Champions 3, Cinderellas 2, in extra time.
The Blue Sharks fought valiantly, but their journey ended. There was a scoreless draw against Spain to open the tournament, with Vozinha leading the way, which led to the captivating tale surrounding the global collaborative effort it took to get his mother to the U.S. to watch matches in the group stage. There were two more dramatic draws that were good enough for Cape Verde to reach the knockout round.
Messi’s goal and a corner kick from the legend midway through the second half of extra time set up the game-winning tally. The match lasted more than 2½ hours in real time after the David-vs.-Goliath showdown started.
The quality of Vozinha was evident in his four elite saves against Messi in the final 60 minutes.
