Mexico on the verge of early Copa América exit after shock defeat to Venezuela

Having secured a 1-0 win over Jamaica last weekend, Mexico looked to get on the front foot from the off and registered the game’s first effort on target inside 10 minutes when Julian Quinones fed Luis Chavez. The Dynamo Moscow man’s shot from an angle was parried by Rafael Romo, and after Yordan Osorio stepped in to prevent Quinones following in on the rebound, Carlos Rodriguez fired wastefully wide. 

Not too long after that, the two-time Copa América runners-up had another opportunity to open the scoring as Chavez turned provider this time, finding striker Santiago Gimenez with a pinpoint ball forward, but the Feyenoord marksman saw his shot smothered by the onrushing Romo, who was subsequently grateful to gather in when Rodriguez was picked out by Quinones but produced a tame header.

At the other end, Salomon Rondon had Venezuela’s only big first-half chance, striking the base of Julio Gonzalez’s left-hand post shortly after the half-hour mark following brilliant work by Jefferson Savarino.

However, La Vinotinto, as they did in their 2-1 victory over Ecuador on matchday one, began the second period with much more venom, with the lively Yeferson Soteldo stinging Gonzalez’s palms before Rondon saw a scuffed effort trickle wide.

It wasn’t long though before the 34-year-old was celebrating scoring a record-extending 42nd Venezuela goal, slotting home a penalty after Jon Aramburu had been bundled over in the box by Quinones following excellent interplay with substitute Cristian Casseres.

Had Rondon and Yangel Herrera not then clashed heads when attempting to meet Soteldo’s sumptuous cross, the lead may have been doubled. Both men were fine to continue, but it was inevitable that Mexico would start to regain the battle for territory.

However, they struggled to convert possession into clear-cut opportunities, but must have thought that they would level late on when Miguel Navarro was eventually penalised for handball after a VAR review, only for Romo to guess the right way and deny Orbelin Pineda from 12 yards.

Venezuela held on in stoppage time thanks to more Romo heroics and have now only lost once in their last nine games (W4, D4), moving to within a point of sealing their spot in the last eight. Mexico must now beat Ecuador to give themselves the best chance of doing the same.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Rafael Romo (Venezuela)