Veteran Vozinha the Cape Verde hero as keeper shuts out Spain

ATLANTA, June 15 : Cape Verde keeper Vozinha broke down in tears at the end of Monday's 0-0 draw with Spain after the 40-year-old was mobbed by his teammates following a stunning display as he denied the European champions victory in their World Cup opener, and became a social media sensation in the process.

"He was overwhelmed with emotion," Cape Verde manager Bubista said.

"He is quite an experienced player and has struggled throughout all of these years to be here at this world stage. It was also a cry of resilience."

Four years ago, Spain began the tournament in Qatar with a 7-0 hammering of Costa Rica and after the draw for this year's competition pitted them against a country making their World Cup debut, a similar outcome may well have been expected.

Vozinha plies his trade in the Portuguese second tier with Chaves, and while this was a major step-up in opposition quality for the veteran, and his country, their defensive record in qualification was perhaps a clue that this would be no walkover.

Vozinha was an ever-present in Cape Verde's qualifying campaign, where he conceded eight goals in 10 games. Four of those goals came in one fixture against Cameroon and the keeper kept seven clean sheets, including in all five home matches.

Cape Verde were pinned back in their own half for much of Monday's game but whenever Spain broke through their dogged rearguard, Vozinha came to the rescue.

GREW IN BELIEF

Spain threatened to turn the screw shortly before the break, and when the ball came back off the crossbar from Ferran Torres's shot, Mikel Oyarzabal looked set to score with a header from the rebound but Vozinha tipped the ball over at full-stretch.

Vozinha got down well to hold another effort from Torres and then clawed