Cabo Verde vs Serbia
Match Report
Cape Verde sent a powerful message ahead of the World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Serbia in Lisbon, Kevin Pina's early strike setting the tone for a thoroughly dominant display.
Pina broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, assisted by Ryan Mendes, and the Blue Sharks never looked back. Serbia tried to shake things up by making four substitutions at halftime, but they could rarely trouble the Cape Verde goal — Vladimir Lucic rattling the post was the closest they came. Laros Duarte doubled the lead in the 59th minute, before Gilson 'Benchimol' Tavares put the result beyond doubt four minutes later. Several yellow cards were handed out across both sides, but neither team was reduced to ten men.
For Cape Verde, heading into a historic maiden World Cup campaign in Group H alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, this was the ideal send-off. For Serbia — who failed to qualify after finishing behind England — it was a sobering close to a difficult summer.
Match Events
11'
19'
20'
20'
46'
46'
46'
46'
46'
46'
59'
63'
66'
66'
76'
76'
77'
79'
82'
82'
84'
89'
11'
19'
20'
20'
46'
46'
46'
46'
46'
59'
63'
66'
66'
76'
77'
82'
82'
84'
89'
Head to Head
1
Cabo Verde wins
0
Draws
0
Serbia wins
Goals: 3 - 0
