The Venezuelan national team is going through a great period. The only South American team, along with Ecuador, to have never won the Copa America, it has already qualified for the quarter-finals of this edition. Never qualified for the World Cup, Vinotinto is also fourth in the Conmebol qualifying group after 6 matches out of 18, with the top six qualifying directly. Last night, at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, near Los Angeles, Fernando Batista’s players confirmed their good form by stringing together a second victory in a row, against Mexico (1-0), four days after overturning Ecuador (2-1).
Venezuela sometimes suffered, Rafael Romo being particularly decisive against Santi Gimenez (18th), but Salomon Rondon, in a very similar action, found Julio Gonzalez’s post (34th). The Pachuca striker, who played for Malaga, Zenith and Everton, delivered his team by converting a penalty caused by a foul by Julian Quiñones on Jon Aramburu (57th). More than ever, he is the top scorer in Venezuela’s history, with 42 goals in 106 caps.
Mexico had its chance in turn, obtaining a penalty for a handball from Miguel Angel Navarro on a shot from Jorge Sanchez. But the incoming Orbelin Pineda lost his duel against Romo (87th), confirming the Venezuelan qualification in the quarters. El Tricolor, for their part, will have to beat Ecuador to join them.
Ecuador-Mexico with the feel of the round of 16
The Ecuadorians are indeed in a favourable position, after a two-goal victory against Jamaica (3-1) which gives them a positive goal difference compared to Mexico (+1 against 0). Felix Sanchez’s men will therefore only need a draw to reach the quarter-finals. This victory against the Jamaicans was however less obvious than it seems, Ecuador lacking precision in the final move (only 3 shots on target out of 23 attempted). The opening score came from a cross from Piero Hincapie deflected by Kasey Palmer who lobbed goalkeeper Jahmali Waite (13th).
The young 17-year-old prodigy Kendry Paez, who is one of our players to watch in this Copa America, then converted a penalty at the end of the first half (45th + 4). He thus became the youngest scorer in the history of the competition. West Ham striker Michail Antonio responded to a mix-up following a corner (54th), opening his team’s tally for his third appearance. Jamaica pushed to come back, exposed themselves, and Ecuador ended up attacking on the counter thanks to Alan Minda, scorer after a solitary raid following another Jamaican corner (90th + 1). Ecuador’s victory was a foregone conclusion, as was Jamaica’s elimination.
