Cabo Verde, the third smallest nation to ever participate in the World Cup, went toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best in Spain.
Using stout defense and an incredible performance in net by goalkeeper Vozinha, Cabo Verde managed to stun the Spaniards in a 0-0 draw.
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Heading into the match up, Spain sat at second in the FIFA rankings, just behind current world champions Argentina.
As for Cabo Verde, they sat at 67th.
The 65-place gap marked the largest FIFA ranking disparity in a World Cup match where the higher ranked opponent failed to win.
Passing the previous record holder between South Africa and Spain in their 2002 2-2 draw, which held a 64-place gap.
Early during the first half, Spain predictably held a majority of the possession, patiently searching for a mistake to exploit.
Holding 72% of the possession through the first 14 minutes.
Spain would get off their first shot of the match courtesy of Pedri, but with little power on the strike, Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha had no trouble making the save.
Cabo Verde would see their first true offensive push come in the 22′, but a delayed offsides whistle would bring it to an end.
It wasn’t much later that Cabo Verde would also find their first shot of the match.
Steven Moreira, defender for the Columbus Crew, would attempt a shot from inside the box, but it would be quickly knocked away.
A chaotic series of events in the 38th minute saw Spain come painfully close to scoring.
Ferran Torres missed from point blank range, ricochetting the shot off the crossbar.
Just moments later, Mikel Oyarzabal would attempt to header the rebound, forcing a spectacular save from Vozinha.
Spain kept the pressure on, Torres again would try his luck, with a shot once again from short range.
But Vozinha stood unphased, corralling the ball and keeping the game scoreless.
Spain once again created another great opportunity, this time from a corner.
But Vozinha would continue to be a brick wall in net, knocking away the Oyarzabal header.
The Spaniards would be kept at bay as the half-time whistle rung out, leaving the game scoreless through the first 45.
In the second half Spain continued to pressure, creating opportunity after opportunity, but not being able to capitalize.
Cabo Verde was on defense for so much of the second half, it took them until the 90th minute to find their first shot of the half.
And following a Cabo Verde corner in the 90+1-minute, Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón was forced to make just his first save of the game.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net as the full-time whistle blew.
The ending of Cabo Verde’s first World Cup match in history also brought the country’s first World Cup point in history.
Spain simply dominated this match up, out shooting Cabo Verde 27 to six, have seven shots on goal to Cabo Verde’s one and held 74% of the possession.
But it was the man in net for the Cabo Verdens, Vozhina, who kept this match scoreless.
He would end the day with seven saves, several of which were far from routine.
Cabo Verde and Spain will both play next on Sunday, with Spain taking on Saudi Arabia at noon.
And Cabo Verde, Uruguay at 6 p.m.
Follow Adrian Murillo Silva on Instagram @adrianms_official
