The selection of Venezuela advanced as leader of group B of the America Cup with full points for the first time in its history, winning 0-3 this Sunday at Jamaica in Austin, Texas, after previous victories against Ecuador and Mexico, and avoided Argentina to meet Canada in the quarter-finals.
Goals by Eduard Bello, Salomón Rondón and Eric Ramírez launched the team of Argentine Fernando Batista, suspended and replaced at the Q2 Stadium in Austin by his assistant Leandro Cufré, on an afternoon in which the only negative news was the yellow card received by Darwin Machíswho will miss the quarter-finals.
The Vinotinto, supported in Austin by almost 20,000 fans in the stadium, will now travel to AT&T Stadium in Arlington (Texas) for the quarterfinals against Canada, second behind Argentina in Group A. Venezuela dominated its group and finished with nine points. Jamaica, which arrived at this meeting already eliminated, finished fourth.
Darwin Machís, who was cautioned against Panama, will not play in the quarterfinals
The Vinotinto had four players on the verge of suspension (Machís, Christian Cásseres, Nahuel Ferraresi and Miguel Navarro) heading into the game against Jamaica and ‘Bocha’ Batista only started one player, Darwin Machís. The winger made a serious mistake in the ninth minute. He committed a hard foul on Joel Latibeadiere that could have even cost him a red card. In the end, the Italian referee showed him a yellow card, which will prevent him from competing against Canada.
That was the only drawback for Venezuela, who played “at home” in Austin, in a stadium dyed burgundy, and had a feast in the second half after the goalless draw in the first.
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Machís shook up the rival defence with his change of pace and could have put the Vinotinto ahead on the stroke of half-time with a cross from the left wing that almost surprised the goalkeeper, who made a worthy save to clear the ball out of the top corner.
But it was only a matter of waiting for Venezuela. Four minutes into the second half, Jon Aramburu sent in a perfect cross from the left wing that Bello took advantage of to free himself from Ethan Pinnoch’s marking and head in for the 1-0.
A knock on the table by Solomon Rondon
The tension was lifted by the Vinotinto and seven minutes later came the blow on the table from Salomón Rondón, who knocked out the goalkeeper after receiving a good through ball from Yangel Herrera. The Gladiador celebrated his second goal in this Copa América and left Jamaica in shock. Rondón, a Pachuca forward, has scored 43 goals with Venezuela in 106 matches and is the top scorer for his national team. When he scores, his team wins. This has happened in the last 16 previous matches.
Everything works for Venezuela. The Gladiator was removed in the 81st minute, replaced by Eric Ramírez, and received a long ovation from the crowd. Less than four minutes later, he faced the goalkeeper in a one-on-one after a great assist from Kervin Andrade and beat him to make it 3-0. The match at the Q2 Stadium ended in a festive atmosphere for a Vinotinto that does not set limits.
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