Venezuela reached the quarter-finals of the Copa America Football Championship by defeating Mexico 1-0 in Inglewood (New Jersey) in the second group, while the second match in this group ended with Jamaica losing to Ecuador 1-3 and the first was completely eliminated from the competition.
In the first match, veteran Venezuelan captain Salomon Rondon scored his country’s only goal from a penalty kick awarded by the referee to Mexican Julián Kenznis, who committed a foul on John Aramburu (57).
Mexico had a golden opportunity to at least get a draw when the referee awarded a penalty kick, but Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo blocked Orbelin Pineda’s attempt three minutes before the end of the match.
Venezuela took the lead in the group after winning the first match over Ecuador 2-1, with 6 points, compared to 3 for Mexico and Ecuador and none for Jamaica.
In the second match, Ecuador took the lead with two goals through Jamaican defender Casey Palmer (13, fouled his team’s goal), before teenager Kendre Paes added the second goal from a penalty kick (45+4).
At the age of 17, Paes became the second youngest player to score a goal in the history of the Copa America finals. West Ham striker Michael Antonio responded with the goal of reducing the difference for Jamaica (54), but the last word went to Ecuador, for whom Allen Minda scored a reassuring goal (90 + 1).
Mexico will meet Ecuador in a decisive match on Sunday to determine the second-place finisher and the ticket to qualify for the quarter-finals, knowing that a draw is sufficient for Ecuador, which leads by one goal.
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