Venezuela's forward Salomon Rondon (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty shot during a Copa America Group B game against Mexico at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Wednesday. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
The opportunities abounded early for Mexico on Wednesday night yet the breakthrough never came. Instead, a Venezuela squad currently ranked No. 44 by FIFA outplayed the No. 15 team and came away with a 1-0 win in front of the heavily pro-Mexican crowd.
For the second straight 2024 Copa América match at SoFi Stadium, the “home” team failed to deliver. On Monday, it was Brazil failing to find the net against Costa Rica in a 0-0 draw in front of thousands of yellow jerseys in the stands. On Wednesday, it was El Tri getting beaten by Venezuela in what was basically a home game as Mexico fans filled the stadium and left disappointed.
Mexico’s Julián Quiñones will be the fall guy after his mistake led to the Venezuela penalty. After Quiñones made an ugly challenge inside the box on Venezuela’s Jon Aramburu the ref didn't think twice before awarding the penalty. And it was Venezuela’s Salomon Rondon, who plays for Liga MX side Pachuca, that converted the penalty that was the difference in the match.
El Tri had opened their tournament run with a bittersweet win over Jamaica on Saturday night at NRG Stadium in Houston. Mexico eked out a 1-0 victory thanks to a Gerardo Arteaga goal in the 69th minute, but lost Edson Álvarez to injury in his first match wearing the captain’s armband. Álvarez confirmed via social media Tuesday that his tournament is over as the West Ham star will focus on rehabilitating his injured leg.
Venezuela faced no such hurdles in its tourney opener against Ecuador. La Vinotinto secured a somewhat surprising 2-1 win after Ecuador captain Enner Valencia was shown a red card for a dangerous play inside the box that found his cleat connect with the face of Philadelphia Union’s Jose Martinez. Down a man, Ecuador surrendered two goals in the second half.
With Wednesday's win, Venezuela sits atop Group B with six points and will be moving on to the quarterfinals after its match Sunday against Jamaica. Ecuador is currently second in the group with three points after its 3-1 win over Jamaica in the early game Wednesday. Mexico needs a win Sunday against Ecuador to move into second and into the quarterfinals.
Quiñones makes a huge mistake with a foul inside the box on Aramburu. The ref didn't think twice before awarding the penalty and Venezuela capitalizes! Rondon makes it 1-0 from the penalty spot in front of a stunned SoFi Stadium crowd.
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) June 27, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
46' Substitutions
Mexico replacing Cesar Montes with Israel Reyes and Cristian Casseres subs in for Jefferson Savarino on Venezuela.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Injured Álvarez supporting his teammates
EDSON ALVAREZ in the stands watching Mexico face Venezuela. Still there for his side despite being out for rest of Copa America due to hamstring injury. Great gesture from El Tri captain. 🇲🇽🙌 pic.twitter.com/8VJzJalr1c
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Cesar Montes of Mexico and Nahuel Ferraresi of Venezuela argue during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group B match between Venezuela and Mexico at SoFi Stadium on June 26, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports Staff
HALFTIME: Mexico 0-0 Venezuela
Mexico and Venezuela are struggling to find the net, but both sides seem close to a breakthrough. Mexico has taken 8 shots with two on target. Of Venezuela's 3 shots none have been on target. Mexico is barely winning the possession battle 54% to 46%.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Gimenez struggling
Venezuela's goalkeeper #22 Rafael Romo watches as Mexico's forward #11 Santiago Gimenez takes a shot on goal during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament group B football match between Venezuela and Mexico at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on June 26, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports Staff
38' Yellow card
Now Gimenez is booked for a rough tripping foul on Martinez. Match is getting chippy. Martinez was very slow to get up
Yahoo Sports Staff
35' Yellow card
Venezuela's Ferraresi receives a first yellow card after a foul on Mexico's Chávez.
The SoFi Stadium stands aren't nearly full, but the fans who did make it on time nearly witnessed an opening-minute goal with Santi Gimenez just missing an assist in front of goal.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Playesr of Mexico get in the field prior the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group B match between Venezuela and Mexico at SoFi Stadium on June 26, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports Staff
Venezuela's lineup with all eyes on captain Salomon Rondon
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) June 27, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Welcome to Yahoo Sports and our live coverage of the 2024 Copa América. We'll be posting updates, highlights and analysis for tonight match between Mexico and Venezuela right here from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
First the Biblical rain, then the judgements, and it would be fair to say that not all agreed with those made by an English team of officials in charge of the most dramatic game yet of the European championship.
Hosts Germany beat Denmark 2-0 in a storm-interrupted encounter to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Saturday, after reigning champions Italy were knocked out of the competition by Switzerland.Nevertheless, a commanding victory takes the hosts through to a quarter-final next Friday in Stuttgart against either much-fancied Spain or surprise package Georgia.
The manager of the national team could be on his way out whatever happens in Euro 24, but critics should be careful what they wish for say his supporters
Virat Kohli said he had played his last Twenty20 international after starring in India's thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados on Saturday."Rohit has played nine T20 World Cups, this is my sixth," said Kohli.
Cole Palmer says he is “gutted” that Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea but revealed that his replacement as head coach, Enzo Maresca, is the one who converted the England international into being a right-winger.
Richardson finished fourth in the women's 200-meter final at the U.S. Olympic track & field trials on Saturday evening, one spot shy of what she needed to punch her ticket to Paris in the event.
A huge sinkhole opened up on a soccer field at a park in Alton, Illinois, on Wednesday. Security camera footage captured the moment the 100-foot-wide and 30-foot-deep hole swallowed part of the astroturf at Gordon Moore Park, taking with it a light pole and benches. Luckily, no one was on the field at the time of the incident.
The decision to give the Duke of Sussex a sports award named after an American war hero killed in Afghanistan has been criticised by the soldier’s mother.
Emma Raducanu is eyeing up a future as a University of Oxford student, according to her friend and fellow tennis professional Fran Jones, who recently spent a day touring Oxford’s colleges with her.