Venezuela to Copa quarter-finals after defeat by Mexico, Jamaica out

Venezuela booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Wednesday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mexico that secured Jamaica’s elimination from the tournament.

Los Angeles, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – Jun 27, 2024) Venezuela secured their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mexico on Wednesday. Jamaica was thus eliminated from the tournament.

Mexico-based veteran Salomon Rondon scored the only goal from the penalty spot to seal all three points for Venezuela, who top Group B with six points from two games.

Mexico, meanwhile, can still qualify for the knockout rounds with a win over Ecuador in their final group match on Sunday.

But the Mexicans will be kidding themselves for failing to get at least a point from Wednesday’s match with Venezuela in a packed SoFi stadium in Los Angeles.

Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda missed a penalty in the 87th minute that could have made it 1-1, but his effort was saved by Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo.

Earlier, Rondon had given Venezuela the lead from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after Mexico’s Julian Quinones brought down Venezuela’s Jon Aramburu with a clumsy challenge in the area.

Venezuela’s win confirmed Jamaica’s exit from the tournament following their 3-1 defeat to Ecuador in Las Vegas earlier on Wednesday.

Ecuador, defeated by Venezuela in their opening match on Saturday, held off a spirited rally by the Reggae Boyz in the second half to claim three crucial points at Allegiant Stadium.

The South Americans appeared to be on their way to victory after taking a 2-0 lead following an own goal from Kasey Palmer and a penalty from Chelsea teenager Kendry Paez.

However, Jamaica pulled a goal back from veteran striker Michail Antonio early in the second half, and then faced strong claims for a penalty that was disallowed 15 minutes before the start of the match.

However, Ecuador made the match safe in stoppage time with a breakaway goal from Alan Minda as Jamaica pushed for an equalizer.

Ecuador opened the scoring with a bizarre own goal in the 13th minute, with Pierre Hincapie’s cross from the left taking a poor deflection off Palmer and ending up in Jamaica’s net.

Ecuador doubled their lead from the penalty spot just before half time.

Defender Greg Leigh instinctively blocked a header with his upper arm and after a lengthy VAR investigation, Chilean referee Cristian Garay pointed to the spot.

17-year-old Paez – who will join Premier League giants Chelsea in July 2025 when he turns 18 – stepped up and calmly tapped the penalty into the bottom corner.

A rejuvenated Jamaica pulled one back early in the second half, with Antonio poking home a low shot in the 54th minute after Ecuador failed to clear a corner.

Jamaica thought they had been given a lifeline with 15 minutes to go after a VAR penalty check was triggered when Ecuador’s Alan Franco appeared to be trading in the area.

But despite being called to the monitor to watch the incident, referee Garay decided there had been no handball and allowed play to continue, before Minda’s late goal sealed Ecuador’s victory.