The Venezuelan and the Mexican teams stormed Copa América in its 100th anniversary and moved on to the elimination round undefeated after tying 1 – 1 in their match today. However, Mexico classified leading Group C because of some goals the selection scored.
The Venezuelans surprised everybody by eliminating one of the tournament’s favorites, Uruguay, which earned them a clean second spot in the positions table. Unlike Mexico, which holds the 16th rank by FIFA standards, La Vinotinto is a team on the rise that wants to prove they can play world class soccer.
La Vinotinto made its presence felt early on as Jose Manuel Velazquez, who plays for the Arouca in Portugal, opened the scored at minute 10 with an incredible game. Guerra, who has been a prominent figure in the tournament for the Venezuelan selection, cashed in a free shot that was received by a header. However, the execution was way off the archery, but Velazquez jumped and twisted his body in the air to perform an incredible side shot with his right leg that passed between the arms of the Mexican goalkeeper and found the net.
The Mexican team did not fall short and relentlessly attacked the arch defended by Dani Hernández. Time and time again the Mexicans tried with spectacular plays, but the Venezuelan goalkeeper was showing what he was made off. However, Jesús Corona would not have it. If Velazquez’s goal was one of the best of the tournament, Corona’s offensive was one of the most impressive. He drove the ball through the middle of the whole Venezuelan defense and finished it off with a right leg execution crossing the ball to the left pole, and
If Velazquez’s goal was one of the best of the tournament, Corona’s offensive was one of the most impressive. He drove the ball through the middle of the whole Venezuelan defense and finished it off with a right leg execution crossing the ball to the left pole, and this time, Hernández could do nothing about it. At minute 80, the score was 1 – 1, and it stayed that like that until the referee marked the end of the match.
Soccer is a contact game
The game was not entirely free from problems. In an attack performed by Mexico’s eleven, having Lozano, from the Pachuca in Mexico, was carrying the ball by the left band when a Venezuelan player, Yonathan del Valle, performed a rather violent entrance and hurt the Mexican player. The impact was so strong that the microphone next to the field captured the hit sound.
This kind of things happen, but sometimes players lose their temper, and Mexico’s Victor Moreno confronted Del Valle complicating the situation. Venezuela’s Alejandro Guerra quickly separated the men and pulled his teammate off the situation that did not scale up. The Cuban referee, Yadel Martinez, did not consider the action worth of sanction. There are no details on Lozano’s condition, but apart from a lot of pain, he seems to be fine.
Tomorrow, Chile and Panama will face each other at the Lincoln Financial Field to decide who continues in the tournament and who joins Brazil and Uruguay at the airport. That game will be on at 8:00 P.M. Eastern standard time.
Source: Copa América