ATLANTA (AP) — It took Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha 40 years to make his World Cup debut.
The wait was worth it.
Vozinha recorded seven saves Monday, holding Spain’s star-studded lineup to a shocking 0-0 draw Monday. The 40-year-old was everywhere as the Spanish team and its fans became increasingly frustrated, despite dominating possession and unleashing 27 shots. Not even the second-half entrance of young superstar Yamine Lamal could crack the code to get past Vozinha and the Cape Verde defense.
As the final whistle blew, Vozinha hunched over near his net and cried, before being embraced by his teammates. Cape Verde, in its first-ever World Cup match, had gotten a point off of Spain, one of the tournament favorites.
Vozinha said he was overcome by emotions thinking about his loved ones who were unable to see his finest performance: his grandparents who had raised him, and his mother. His grandparents died a few years ago. And his mother had been unable to gather the money in time to get a visa to enter the U.S., Vozinha said.
The wait was worth it.
Vozinha recorded seven saves Monday, holding Spain’s star-studded lineup to a shocking 0-0 draw Monday. The 40-year-old was everywhere as the Spanish team and its fans became increasingly frustrated, despite dominating possession and unleashing 27 shots. Not even the second-half entrance of young superstar Yamine Lamal could crack the code to get past Vozinha and the Cape Verde defense.
As the final whistle blew, Vozinha hunched over near his net and cried, before being embraced by his teammates. Cape Verde, in its first-ever World Cup match, had gotten a point off of Spain, one of the tournament favorites.
Vozinha said he was overcome by emotions thinking about his loved ones who were unable to see his finest performance: his grandparents who had raised him, and his mother. His grandparents died a few years ago. And his mother had been unable to gather the money in time to get a visa to enter the U.S., Vozinha said.
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