New Delhi, June 28 -- Cape Verde demonstrated that small can still be big in the unforgiving environment of elite sport. Scripting one of the great underdog stories in sporting history, the second smallest nation in the World Cup - a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast with a population of more than 500,000 - qualified for the Round of 32, that too unbeaten. Cape Verde became the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup's knockout rounds. In a group led by tournament favourites Spain and twice former winners Uruguay, the unfancied debutants held a listless Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw at the Houston Stadium in some take-off for the African side. Having grabbed global headlines by holding Spain to a goalless draw in the first Group H contest, Cape Verde made their own luck by holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. It left them a draw away from going through as Uruguay faced the near-impossible task of having to beat Spain in their final group game, played simultaneously at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. Cape Verde all but sealed qualification with just three points (3 draws), and a second spot in the table was confirmed when Spain completed a 1-0 win over Uruguay a few minutes later. In Houston, the islanders held firm for the vital point despite Willy Semedo missing a few open chances in the second half, looking the better side during the five-minute added time. Only four teams have qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds after drawing all three group matches in the past - Wales (1958), Ireland and Netherlands (1990) and Chile (1998). But three points are no guarantee as New Zealand found out in 2010, eliminated after three draws. Spain led by a Alex Baena goal and the Cape Verde players waited with bated breath on the pitch, their mobile phones out, as they anxiously hoped that Uruguay didn't score a late equaliser and spoil their chances. Two minutes later, as the final whistle was blown across the border, the Cape Verde dug out, and thousands of their blue-clad fans in the stands - many neutrals cheering them on - erupted in celebration. Saudi Arabia, on two points, needed a victory to progress as Uruguay were losing - Spain topped Group H with seven points - but did not create chances, always second best to an enterprising Cape Verde. The reward for Cape Verde qualifying is a Round of 32 meeting with defending champions Argentina. It will be played in Miami on July 3. One of Cape Verde's heroes is their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, whose string of saves to keep out the Spanish attacks made him a household name around the world. The tears shed by him after the match that his mother could not be at the game because she could not get a visa led to quick action and the US government stepped in to ensure she was given the visa to attend the next game against Uruguay. One of only eight players at the age of 40 or over at the World Cup, and the oldest debutant in the global tournament, Vozinha with each save has helped FIFA defend the expanding of the field from 32 to 48 nations from this edition....