European champions Spain national football team were held to a stunning 0-0 draw by World Cup newcomers Cabo Verde national football team on Monday, as the tournament produced its first major surprise.
Spain entered their Group H opener in Atlanta as overwhelming favourites but failed to break down the resilient Cabo Verde defence despite dominating possession and creating the bulk of the chances.
Even the second-half introduction of teenage star Lamine Yamal could not unlock the Cabo Verde backline as the underdogs secured a famous point in their first-ever World Cup match.
Nicknamed the Blue Sharks, Cabo Verde celebrated wildly at the final whistle after frustrating the 2010 world champions.
The island nation of roughly 525,000 people qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament and delivered one of the competition's biggest shocks.
Cabo Verde dreams come true
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta's state-of-the-art air-conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain's build-up.
Indeed, the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
It took until six minutes before half-time for Spain to seriously threaten.
Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal's looping header over the bar.
Torres tested Vozinha again moments later before Aymeric Laporte's header from a corner was also clawed away by the Cabo Verde number one just before half-time.
The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks and they comfortably held out in the second period until Yamal's entrance after the second hydration break.
Billed as one of the stars of the tournament, the 18-year-old's appearance instantly lifted the crowd and injected life into the pedestrian Spanish attack.
His first involvement set up a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
Yamal also began the move that saw Oyarzabal's effort deflected over with Spain's best chance of the second half.
Cabo Verde nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon.
But even without a winner, 40-year-old Vozinha was reduced to tears at full-time as Cabo Verde produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far.
"I've worked all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream," said Vozinha, who plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division.
"A lot of generations in the past dreamed of this, they didn't achieve it," he added. "The dream came true, for all of us."
Spain's road to victory in 2010 also began disappointingly with a defeat to Switzerland, but they have much to work on ahead of facing Saudi Arabia in Atlanta once more on Sunday.
Cabo Verde next take on Uruguay in Miami.
