Hear
In a confrontation between teams that had won in their debuts in the B Group of the America Cup and? They can be rivals of Argentina in the quarterfinals, Venezuela defeated Mexico 1-0 this Wednesday in a very nice game played at the SoFi stadium in Inglewood, California, for the second date. The victory implied classification for the Venezuelans, directed by the Argentine Fernando Batistathanks to penal converted by Salomon Rondon given that In the end, another one saved his goalkeeper, Rafael Romo.
Not even 20 seconds passed until the first shot on goal, which was from the Mexicans, a cross definition of Uriel Antuna after the ball took air. This one went off course, without its partner Santiago Gimenez managed to correct destiny by jumping. A preview of what was to come. She would later model several occasions with that mold, in a back-and-forth development, with opportunities on both sides.
Mexico is betting on intensity and speed. Make that booklet your search profile. Venezuela wants to have control of the ballscan what is in front of you and rush by surprise. In some cases, they resort to shots from outside the area. They are two uncomfortable, tough teams. Julio González and Rafael Romo, the goalkeepers, it was an afternoon of maximum attention.
The duel, at times, became rough. strong leg, pushes, stomps, protestsa permissive referee in the Brazilian Raphael Claus (it took a while to start showing cards)… Before the close of the first half, a stick saved Mexico, after Rondón controlled the ball and scored left-footed, crossed. The 0-0 was capricious.
In the second stage, coach Fernando Batista opted for another scheme in Venezuela and the elusive Yeferson Soteldo He began to play more loosely. The 10th demanded González at the start and immediately assisted, also accelerating from the left, to Rondón, who tried from the crescent: the ball went next to a post, after a rebound. In the next, Jon Aramburu entered from the right, Julian Quiñones He knocked him down in the area and Salomón did not forgive: 1-0.
The goal gave confidence to the Venezuelans and stressed the Mexicans, pressured in a stadium that had a large majority of its impatient fans. At a disadvantage, the Americans lost their order, made changes and started betting on the centers. The middle of the field became a place of fleeting passage.
Venezuela began to defend itself near its area, and Mexico began to search everywhere. Aramburu took the ball from Luis Chavez when he arrived behind him ready to push the ball into the net and score the tie. The tension was rising. The vinotinto selection ended up cornering itself. And Romo appeared to save a penalty against Orbelín Pineda, after a handball that the VAR warned. Number 22 reached out and grabbed the sphere, which was about to sneak next to a stick.
In the final minutes Mexico insisted and Romo increased his figure with more saves. Over and over again. The Mexicans were without aim or luck, and when the final shot was far from the goalkeeper’s radar, they hit the body of a rival. And the game disappeared with more crosses, more incredible saves, arguments, pushing and charging, which continued after the final whistle.
For the third and last date, next Sunday and simultaneously the leader Venezuela (6 points) will be measured against Jamaica (0), already eliminated from the race for the trophy, and Mexico (3, without goal difference) will have an all or nothing duel with Ecuador (3 and +1), which needs a draw to advance.
THE NATION
