Cape Verde become smallest nation to reach World Cup knockouts after draw with Saudi Arabia

Cape Verde become smallest nation to reach World Cup knockouts after draw with Saudi ArabiaOllie Whitmore, Chief football news reporterCape Verde became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup knockout stages following a resistant performance to hold Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw while Uruguay crashed out after losing to Spain.Neither side came out flying knowing what was at stake depending on which way the result swung, with Willy Semedo coming closest for the Blue Sharks and Saudi Arabia failing to properly test Vozinha in a surprisingly tepid first half.Cape Verde slammed the door shut for most of the half, knowing that Uruguay fell behind against the European champions, and despite missing two huge chances late on are now the first team to qualify with three draws since Chile in 1998.

The result meant it was the end of the road for Saudi Arabia, who generated far too little in front of goal to justify a place in the round of 32 and were bested both at the back and up front by a nation with 36 million fewer inhabitants.As it happenedIt took 18 minutes for the first attempt on goal to come courtesy of Saudi Arabia captain Salem Al-Daswari, which was well blocked by a defender in a very tense opening at the Houston Stadium.Cape Verde soon injected some much-needed tempo to release Willy Semedo down the left wing before his shot from a tight angle was palmed behind by Mohammed Al-Ouwais, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s opening draw with Uruguay.

There was a break in play as Saudi centre-back Hassan Al Tambakti concerningly went down off the ball having seemingly injured his leg before being stretchered off and replaced by Ali Lajami.Saudi Arabia seemed most threatening when choosing to go more direct, particularly as a cross from deep found striker Mohammed Kanno at the back post but his looping header wasn’t any trouble for 40-year-old Vozinha in goal.But the loudest roar from the stands in the first half wasn’t in response to anything on the pitch, ra