The Venezuelan national team is the second classified to the quarterfinals of the Copa America 2024 after defeating Mexico in a tough game played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The only goal of the game was from Salomón Rondón.
In the first half, Mexico had its first approach just twenty seconds after the opening whistle with Uriel Antuna who centered a ball into the area and there Santiago Giménez narrowly missed connecting.
On the 9th, La Tri again approached with Carlos Rodríguez who took a shot without much of an angle that forced Rafael Romo to clear the ball to the side. A few moments later, Venezuela arrived with Yeferson Soteldo who attempted a mid-range shot, but it went far over the top.
Before twenty minutes of play, Giménez lowered the ball inside the area with his chest and took a weak shot that also complicated Romo who had to send it to the side. In the 33rd minute, the clearest chance of this half came for the Vinotinto with Salomón Rondón who lowered it on the edge of the area and there he took a strong left-footed shot that hit the far post of goalkeeper Julio González.
Already in the second half, Venezuela went all out on Mexico’s goal and in the 49th minute they had another great opportunity with Soteldo who headed towards the area and there he took a left foot shot that González saved in a great way. Just three minutes later, Rondón received from Soteldo and took a left-footed shot that barely passed the side of the Mexican goal.
After these two chances, Venezuela continued to insist and there Jon Aramburu went to the right and was knocked down by Julián Quiñones. The referee Claus whistled a penalty and the person in charge of scoring it was Rondón who completely fooled the goalkeeper.
In the last minutes, Mexico came with everything to seek the tie and there they would find themselves with a penalty for a clear handball by Miguel Navarro, but Orbelín Pineda’s charge was saved in a great way by Romo.
Likewise, in the addition, Mexico continued to push Venezuela in its own goal and had several options to tie it, but in the end the South Americans prevailed. With this result, Venezuela will play against Jamaica on the next date while Ecuador and Mexico will play for qualification on the last day.
