Salomon Rondon sends Venezuela into Copa America quarters with win over Mexico
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Venezuela forward Salomon Rondon celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty in the 1-0 Copa America win over Mexico.
PHOTO: AFP
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INGLEWOOD – Venezuela coach Fernando Batista hailed his side’s fighting spirit, as Salomon Rondon tucked away a penalty to send the team into the Copa America quarter-finals with a 1-0 Group B win over Mexico on June 26.
The result at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles also sent Jamaica crashing out of the tournament.
Rondon made no mistake from the spot in the 57th minute after Jon Aramburu was brought down inside the box, sending Mexico goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez the wrong way. It was the Venezuelan all-time top scorer’s 42nd international goal.
“Sometimes we were not in possession of the ball, but we never gave up,” Argentinian Batista said through an interpreter. “They give it their all... and that makes me very proud.”
The win moved Venezuela, who beat Ecuador in their opener, up to six points at the top of the group and secured their progress to the last eight with a game to spare.
Mexico play Ecuador in Arizona on June 30 in a match that will decide the other qualifier from the group.
Jamaica are out irrespective of the outcome of their last match against Venezuela in Texas, having already lost to Mexico and Ecuador, who both have three points.
Venezuela will win the group with a draw or victory in their final match against the Jamaicans, potentially avoiding defending champions Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Mexico were awarded a penalty of their own for a handball in the dying minutes after a video review concluded Miguel Navarro had blocked Jorge Sanchez’s shot with his left arm.
However, Venezuela goalkeeper Rafael Romo got down low to parry Orbelin Pineda’s 87th-minute spot kick.
This was one of five stops that prevented Mexico from finding an equaliser, with his last two saves coming after Pineda’s penalty miss.
“If you generate opportunities as we did, if the Man of the Match is the opponent’s goalkeeper, yes, things weren’t as we expected,” said Mexico coach Jaime Lozano.
“But there are 90 minutes ahead. No one is getting off this ship. And we will make it.”
In other news, Copa America assistant referee Humberto Panjoj has been discharged from hospital after fainting during Canada’s 1-0 win over Peru on June 25, tournament organisers Conmebol said.
The Guatemalan official collapsed due to dehydration in hot and humid conditions in Kansas City but is now in a stable condition, ESPN quoted Conmebol as saying.
Panjoj passed out during stoppage time in the first half, with Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau attracting the attention of medical staff.
He was treated on the sidelines and briefly got back to his feet before being taken off on a stretcher. REUTERS
