Venezuela’s players celebrate after winning the group B match of the Copa América Conmebol 2024 against Mexico.
Photo: AFP – PATRICK T. FALLON
Venezuela qualified early for the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa América in the United States, an event it had not played since Brazil-2019, by beating Mexico 1-0 this Wednesday in Inglewood, California, with a penalty goal from its historic striker. Salomón Rondón.
In what is his fifth and last participation in the American competition, the 34-year-old captain scored (57) the goal that made Vinotinto the second seed in the next phase, after Lionel Messi’s Argentina, and in the process he returned to Jamaica in the first team eliminated.
Ecuador gave credence to the predictions and in the first match this Wednesday they defeated Jamaica 3-1, who at least had the consolation of scoring their first goal in eight Copa América matches. La Tri seemed to have it easy after a rare goal by Piero Hincapié in the 13th minute with a long shot from the left side that slipped past goalkeeper Jahmali Waite and a penalty taken by young star Keindry Paéz at 45+5. At the edge of the match (90+1), Alan Minda converted after a solitary gallop.
The 17-year-old youth player is the second youngest player to score in the history of the Copa América.
“We knew it was complicated, but we knew how to get through it, I am happy for the work of my entire team. Continue trusting us, we need your support to raise the name of the country,” Moisés Caicedo, a figure from Ecuador, told the press.
This is how Group B of the Copa América looked
| Equipment | Matches | Goal Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Venezuela | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2. Ecuador | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3. Mexico | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4. Jamaica | 2 | -3 | 0 |
When will the next Group A matches be?
Sunday June 30
- Jamaica vs. Venezuela (7:00 pm)
- Mexico vs. Ecuador (7:00 pm)
