MIAMI — Maccabi Tel Aviv’s star winger Helio Varela scored a second-half equalizer for Cape Verde against Uruguay in a dramatic group stage game on Sunday as the tiny island nation continued its fairy tale World Cup journey.

Sunday’s soccer action also saw a historic day for Egypt, which ended a 90-year wait to win its first World Cup game, while Iran overcame a myriad of complications amid war tensions to battle to a scoreless tie with Belgium.

Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks backed up their draw with Spain in their first World Cup finals match last week, when they stunned the world by holding the European champions goalless, by defying a second footballing powerhouse in the stifling heat of Miami Stadium for a 2-2 draw.

There was early pandemonium in the packed stands when Kevin Pina gave the African side the lead in the 21st minute with Cape Verde’s first World Cup goal from a long-range free kick.

Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio replied in the space of six minutes just before the break to put Uruguay ahead at halftime, but substitute Varela pounced on a defensive mistake to level the scores around the hour mark.

The 24-year-old Varela signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv last year after spending several years in the Portuguese and Belgian leagues.

He has scored three goals in 23 appearances for the Israeli club.

Sunday was his 21st match representing the small African island nation, and the deciding score was his first goal in international competition.

There were chances at both ends as the teams pushed for a winner in a frenetic finish but at the final whistle it was the thousands of Cape Verdeans in the stadium who celebrated their second World Cup point.

Both teams trail group leaders Spain by two points with Cape Verde’s bold ambition of reaching the round of 32 very much alive heading into their clash with the Saudis.

“We would like to compete at the highest level and that’s what we’ve been doing in these two games,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “We’re here to try to achieve a new dream, which is to qualify for the second round. I think it’s legitimate for us to think that way.”

Twice world champions Uruguay, meanwhile, move on to their final group game against the Spanish with their place in the knockout rounds far from assured.

“Undoubtedly, Uruguay has a better squad than the one from Cabo Verde but we had to show it,” coach Marcelo Bielsa said. “Even with the goals that we conceded, we should have won. So, as far as I see it, we need to turn up against Spain and we have the need and the obligation to beat them.”

Uruguay started the game looking to put behind them their disappointing 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia but quickly got bogged down in a scrappy dogfight with the........

© The Times of Israel