Cape Verde coach ‘upset’ after ‘frustrating’ build-up to Uruguay goal

Cape Verde coach Bubista said he was “upset” after a Uruguay player broke off from helping treat one of his players for cramp to join the attack that led to the South Americans’ equaliser.

Cape Verde held a 1-0 lead heading towards half-time after a stunning free-kick from Kevin Pina, but entered the break behind.

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Uruguay’s first goal came in unusual circumstances as Federico Vinas, who had been holding up the leg of Cape Verde player Telmo Arcanjo to help relieve cramp, unceremoniously dropped it when he realized an attack was on.

Uruguay swung the ball into the box and after Sidny Cabral’s header struck his own post, Maxi Araujo stooped to head in and level.

Bubista could not hide his disappointment at the incident after the match, particularly given the high regard he has for Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa.

“I was upset by that – because Bielsa taught us to have fair play. That’s in his press conferences, that’s in the matches that his teams play. We learned what fair play was from his attitude,” he said.

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“It felt frustrating, but that’s part of the game and part of the experience of growing with the team.

“We could have done something to prevent that situation, we could have kicked the ball off the pitch, but we’re trying to do things our own way.

“It’s also natural that players will sometimes feel pressured and we can say that about the Uruguay team as well. We can only grow from what happened.”