Uruguay 2-1 Cape Verde Half-Time Thoughts: Uruguay Mount Impressive Comeback After Cape Verde Score First World Cup Goal

Uruguay head into the break ahead after an impressive comeback late on in the first half. Cape Verde have been very entertaining to watch and have played with confidence, intensity and belief. They have showcased their solid defensive unit once again and looked dangerous on the counter. However, Uruguay have created chances, controlled possession and stayed resilient to turn the score-line around.

The game started intense, with both teams attacking at pace. Augustin Canobbio found himself with space on the right wing and played a pass through to Federico Valverde who uncharacteristically dragged his shot wide in 14th minute.

Cape Verde had chances of their own and played entertaining football throughout the half. After a brilliant run from Telmo Arcanjo, Cape Verde earned a free kick which looked too far out to shoot from. But Kevin Pina stepped up and hit a venomous strike through the Uruguayan wall, beating Fernando Muslera and finding its way into the bottom right corner.

The celebrations were brilliant as Cape Verde celebrated their first ever World Cup goal - a moment the nation will remember forever. After that, the confidence really began to flow. The Blue Sharks were the better side for most of the half, playing with no fear and working extremely hard in and out of possession. 

Uruguay continued to dominate the ball and test the Cape Verde defence with crosses into the box. It began to look like a bit of frustration could creep in for Marcelo Bielsa and his team as Cape Verde had chances to extend their lead, showing shades of the first half against Saudi Arabia. 

But then the momentum began to shift just before the break. A good ball into the box was met by Rodrigo Bentancur, whose header was saved by Vozinha before it kindly fell to Maximiliano Araujo who was there to score his second goal of the tournament in a very similar fashion to his first.

With five added minutes, Uruguay continued to push for another goal and managed to find another breakthrough. Manuel Ugarte crossed the ball in again and a header by Araujo gave Canobbio a golden opportunity, which he took. A well-worked goal just before the half-time whistle crushed Cape Verdean hearts but gave Uruguay a valuable lead to take into the break.

It has been an entertaining first half with both sides showing quality. Uruguay have an important lead which they need to hold onto to keep their World Cup hopes alive but Cape Verde will believe they can do something special once more. The second half promises to be a great watch for the neutral!