How do you win a game in which you never score?

It’s a riddle that Cape Verde (also known as “Cabo Verde”) cracked Monday with a shocking 0-0 draw against World Cup juggernauts Spain on Monday.

It was a result that stunned the world and sent the crowd at the city-hosted community watch party at Town Field in Dorchester into a joyful rapture.

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“We are astounded. We are beyond belief that we stood up against Spain,” said Fernanda Vera-Cruz. “0-0 is an awesome score.”

Coming into the game, the crowd at the park was already proud of the team for simply making it to the World Cup for the first time. It was a sea of blue and red Cabo Verde kits, with a sprinkling of supporters of other squads as well. There were a couple of Spain fans for good measure. Even some stray members of Scotland’s Tartan Army showed up.

James Fortes was the DJ for the event and was excited to watch Dorchester’s “home team.”

“You know there’s a big Cape Verdean community out here, so I love that the mayor set this up for it to be right here in Dorchester in the heart of the community,” Fortes said. “People are able to just come outside, enjoy the weather, enjoy the park and watch the game. It brings us all together.”

As the game started, the crowd that grew to what looked like well over 100 people was thrilled to simply watch the team on the pitch. But after the Blue Sharks held Spain to a scoreless first-half, the energy in the air started to take a shift.

Every stat pointed to Spain coming out with a win. La Roja had seven shots on goal. Cabo Verde had one. And Spain had 11 corner kicks.

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But Cabo Verde played one of the most spirited defensive games ever seen on a pitch. Cabo Verdean keeper Vozinha was a Vitruvian Man in the goal, stretching from post to post to form a wall the Spaniards couldn’t get through and recording seven hard-fought saves.

As the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark, just about everyone’s eyes were glued to the screen, every possession a drama. Even the cops couldn’t look away.

Then, after what seemed like a lifetime, the final whistle blew. And the park erupted.

It was the draw heard ‘round the world. And no matter what happens as Cabo Verde continues in its first ever World Cup, those gathered in Fields Corner will likely never forget the day the third-smallest country to make a World Cup went toe to toe with Spain. And turned everyone in the park into a Cabo Verde fan, even for just a few hours.

“We’re elated, this is beyond what we could have imagined,” said Cibel Lutaaya. “We made strides. This is history in the making.”