* With resolute draw against Saudi Arabia followed by Egypt, who advanced to the knockout stages after dramatic draw with Iran
* As Senegal roared back into contention with thrilling five-goal victory over Iraq and await other results to determine 3rd-best placed team
Maravi Express
Cape Verde etched their name into the FIFA World Cup™ history books, securing a place in the knockout stages on debut after battling to a determined 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia in Houston.
Advertisement
They were joined by the Pharaohs of Egypt, advanced to the knockout stages after dramatic draw with Iran while Senegal kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage with a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq and await other results to determine 3rd-best placed team.
Cape Verde continue to achieve historic appearance at the global football stage and knowing a point would be enough following Spain’s victory over Uruguay elsewhere in Group H, the Blue Sharks produced a disciplined performance to finish second in the group and complete one of the tournament’s most remarkable stories.
With the stakes enormous, neither side was prepared to take unnecessary risks in a tense opening half. Cape Verde controlled possession for long periods but struggled to create clear openings, while Saudi Arabia enjoyed spells of pressure without seriously troubling veteran goalkeeper Vozinha.
Ryan Mendes fashioned Cape Verde’s best opportunity before the interval when he broke into the penalty area from the right, only for Mohammed Al Owais to make a smart save at his near post.
News filtering through that Spain had taken the lead against Uruguay lifted the Cape Verde supporters inside the stadium, with the result elsewhere placing the Blue Sharks in the qualification positions as the second half got underway.
Cape Verde grew increasingly confident after the restart and almost found the breakthrough through Kevin Pina, whose ambitious long-range effort drifted narrowly wide before Jamiro Monteiro tested Al Owais after a flowing move.
Head coach Bubista looked to inject fresh energy with the introductions of Hélio Varela, Nuno da Costa, Laros Duarte and Garry Rodrigues, and the substitutes immediately made an impact.
Saudi Arabia searched desperately for the goal that would send them through instead, but Cape Verde’s outstanding defensive pairing of Roberto Lopes and Logan Costa stood firm, repeatedly snuffing out danger as the clock ticked down.
There was even one final opportunity to snatch all three points deep into stoppage time, but Da Costa fired wide of an open goal after Rodrigues’ inviting cutback.
The encounter eventually ended goalless with the African nation securing a place in the knockout stages as the goalless draw was enough to seal an unforgettable milestone for Cape Verde, whose remarkable World Cup journey continues into the knockout rounds, where an even greater challenge now awaits.
Egypt secured their place after a thrilling 1-1 draw in Seattle against Iran, surviving a dramatic late VAR intervention to confirm their progression from Group G.
The Pharaohs showed resilience in a fiercely contested encounter, overcoming sustained Iranian pressure before celebrating qualification after a stoppage-time winner for Iran was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
It was a result that ensured Hossam Hassan’s side continued their impressive World Cup campaign and booked their place in the last 32 having made the perfect start, striking inside five minutes.
Mohamed Salah’s initial effort was spilled by Alireza Beiranvand, allowing Mahmoud Saber to react quick and fire home from close range for his second goal of the tournament.
Iran had an immediate opportunity to respond when Mehdi Taremi won a penalty, but Mostafa Shobeir produced an outstanding save to deny the striker from the spot. The reprieve proved short-lived as Ramin Rezaeian pounced on the rebound from another Iranian attack to level the scores in an entertaining opening quarter-hour.
The remainder of the first half remained evenly balanced, with Egypt enjoying promising spells through Salah and Trezeguet, while Iran continued to threaten from wide areas. The teams went into the interval locked at 1-1 after an absorbing 45 minutes.
Knowing qualification was within reach, Egypt managed the second half intelligently despite Iran pressing relentlessly for the winner they needed. Hossam Hassan introduced fresh legs, including the dangerous Omar Marmoush and Zizo, as the Pharaohs looked to maintain their intensity.
Egypt came close to reclaiming the lead when Trezeguet was denied by Beiranvand early in the second period before Iran struck the woodwork late on as the tension inside Seattle Stadium continued to rise.
The drama reached its peak deep into stoppage time when Shoja Khalilzadeh bundled the ball into the net, sparking wild celebrations among the Iranian players. Those celebrations were cut short moments later, however, as VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
The final whistle sparked celebrations for the seven-time African champions, who extended their World Cup journey with another determined display. Having navigated a demanding Group G campaign, Egypt now turn their attention to the knockout stages, where they join the growing list of African representatives in the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, the Lions of Teranga knew they needed a big win to stand any chance of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams, and coach Pape Thiaw’s side delivered with their most complete performance of the tournament.
Habib Diarra gave Senegal an early lead before Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off after a VAR review for denying Sadio Mané a clear goalscoring opportunity — but Iraq defended bravely for the rest of the first half.
Senegal then took control after the break, with Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye completing a heavy victory. Gueye scored twice with powerful finishes as Senegal moved to three points in Group I, having earlier lost to France and Norway.
The Teranga Lions will now wait to see whether their goal difference is enough to take them into the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.
For Iraq, the defeat ended a painful campaign. They finished bottom of the group with no points after defeats by Norway, France and Senegal.—Reporting by CAFonline; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
South Africa 1-0 South Korea
Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Switzerland 2-1 Canada
Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Morocco 4-2 Haiti
Scotland 3-0 Brazil
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
USA 2-1 Australia
Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay
Turkiye 3-2 USA
Paraguay 0-0 Australia
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao
Curaçao 0-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador 2-1 Germany
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Tunisia 0-4 Japan
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands
Sweden 1-1 Japan
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Belgium 0-0
New Zealand 1-3
Egypt 1-1 Iran
New Zealand 1-5 Belgium
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
Cape Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia
Uruguay 0-1 Spain
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Norway 3-2 Senegal
France 3-0 Iraq
Norway 1-4 France
Senegal 5-0 Iraq
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Argentina 2-0 Austria
Jordan 1-2 Tunisia
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
Colombia 1-0 DR Congo
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
England 0-0 Ghana
Panama 0-1 Croatia
Advertisement