Mexico 1-1 Venezuela
Well, there you have it folks. Who would have thought one of the best, if not the best game of the tournament would be from two teams who technically had nothing to play for. Tecatito Corona is an absolute talent and Porto better hold on to him for as long as they can because he just turned in a performance the highest quality. But taking nothing away from Venezuela as I am done with the “good for them” rhetoric. They can play and they will be a major threat to Argentina. In front of a hostile environment, they delivered and really have done their nation proud.
Mexico remain unbeaten in 22 matches but hand Osorio his first result that doesn’t end up in a win. Venezuela have now conceded a goal but it’s quite clear that they don’t make it easy.
A great game in a tournament that just keeps getting better. Thanks for tuning in. I’ll be back later this week for the quarter-finals.
Have a great evening.
End of game
90+4: Wow. What a game. What a half. An incredible end to the game.
90 min: Corona couldn’t save the ball coming in and Venezuela come so close! We are going to have four minutes of injury time.
Euro 2016 is Jazz. Copa America is rock n roll.
Enjoy both the Euro & Copa América, but the chaos of the Copa is a lot of fun. Mexico 15 minutes from losing to Venezuela on FS1.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 14, 2016
87 min: What a block by Velazquez as Chicharito looked destined to score in the box. This is an incredible end to the game.
TecaMessi
Tecamessi #MEXvVEN #CopaAmerica https://t.co/4u2GklLJZR
— LuisMiguelEchegaray (@lmechegaray) June 14, 2016
84 min: Oh my....is this happening??? Martinez with an audacious bicycle kick and Corona tips it over the goal. That would have been the goal of the tournament
83 min: Otero comes on for Guerra as Venezuela make the last substitution. Tecatito has become possessed.
Goal! Mexico 1-1 Venezuela (Corona 80)
80 min: Corona just transformed into Messi and scored one of my favorite goals of the tournament. Incredible. Takes on the entire defensive unit in the box, dribbling in and out and smashes it. What a goal. Game on.
79 min: Oh my God. What a run by Tecatito Corona! Takes it all the way to the box, magically dribbling around players and curls it around the keeper but its wide. Amazing.
78 min: Rondón is coming on for Santos.
Just look at this.
WHAT. A. SAVE, Dani Hernandez. 👐 #MEXvVEN #MyCopaColors https://t.co/11A5Fctbu5
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2016
73 min: Mexico keep pushing and Peñaranda once again with a foul in a dangerous area as Lozano gets trampled just outside the box. Free-kick to Mexico. The cross comes and oh....my....GOD. The most amazing save by Hernandez as he clears a shot from a foot away. Incredible. A corner and Hernandez catches the ball but gets fouled in the process, meanwhile Chicharito wants a penalty. Not sure why.
Our very own Chris Taylor with a very important topic. Unfortunately, this is too much of a reality. The attempt to educate can be a long journey. I’ve been getting a few emails and tweets on this subject and I think it’s an important issue to discuss. Feel free to email me after the game with your thoughts. I may not be able to post them here on the live-blog but it will be a discussion worth noting in the future. This is a complex subject that needs more attention, especially taking in mind most of the victims were Hispanic. For now, we’ll stick to the game.
Slightly dispiriting that after the minute’s silence for the victims of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting the Mexican fans choose to persist in greeting every goal-kick with a cry of “eh...puuuu!”
69 min: Yellow for Peñaranda. He gives away a dangerous free-kick. Falls to Chicharito but doesn’t connect well.
67 min: Chicharito enters for Molina. The crowd go wild.
66 min: Wow. Moments after coming on, Martinez nearly scores but it falls to Corona. There’s another twist in this one. I can feel it.
64 min: Mexico just got so close as a shot goes inches wide of the goal. Is this going to happen? Chicharito warming up. First, Martinez comes on for Del Valle.
63 min: Del Valle (who by the way has an Air Jordan tattoo on his neck) with a curling left-footed shot is comfortably collected by the keeper.
Here is Tecatito’s attempt that goes just wide.
#MEXvVEN: 56'. Disparo del 'Tecatito' que va apenas desviado. Cerca México del empate. #UDCentenario #CopaAmerica https://t.co/NEsn1dsvgZ
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 14, 2016
59 min: Yellow card for Molina. A great chance for Venezuela for a free-kick 30 yards from the goal but it goes into row z.
Here’s that fantastic stop from earlier.
Wilker Angel puts his body on the line to deny #ElTri a certain equalizer. #MEXvVEN #MyCopaColors https://t.co/LUE6YRlmub
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2016
57 min: What a fantastic shot by Tecatito Corona that goes just wide of the goal. Can Mexico find a goal, here?
52 min: Lozano is down and Mexican players furiously surround the ref. A fight is looming. Yellow for Santos on the foul.
49 min: What a run by De Valle. From his own half he takes it to the Mexican box with a solo run and wins the corner. Amazing. On the other end Peralta with a great chance to tap it in from a cross but Venezuela’s defense clears it. Incredible!
Updated
Second half
45 min: And we’re back. Mexico push straight away as they look for that equalizer.
Half-time
45+2 min: And that’s the end of the half and as it stands, Mexico are playing Argentina. So let me get this straight, here are some group winners: USA, PERU and possibly Venezuela? Amazing. I’ll be back for the second half.
44 min: A yellow for Herrera. Ref definitely took his time in making that call as he went in hard on a challenge.
41 min: Some interplay from the right hand side gets broken up by Venezuela as they counter looking for a second. A long shot goes way over the bar.
38 min: Mexico getting closer as a corner nearly falls to Corona again. A deflection from the corner shows a handball by Venezuela and FS1 analysts calling for a penalty but that would have been harsh.
34 min: Another beautifully designed play and again another cross from the left-hand side as this time it’s Tecatito with the header. Goes straight into the arms of the keeper.
Good point.
21 of 23 players used thus far by Osorio. Good numbers, if you're testing out options in a couple of friendlies. #MEXvVEN
— Eric Gomez (@EricGomez86) June 14, 2016
31 min: Herrera with a ridiculously powerful header in the box but just can’t connect and place it on target. Most of the action coming from Mexico’s left-hand side.
Osorio might regret it, I agree. Sometimes you gotta roll with momentum.
Mexico: 9 changes too many? Another Copa upset?
-Darren via email
Christian emails as he has spent 14 years in Caracas. What a story!
Arrived for 2002 World Cup, said i would not leave till Venezuela qualified. While this may take too long, this performance and last 2, has satisfied my dreams.
26 min: Mexico regain the majority of the possession as they look for an equalizer but this resilient Venezuelan back four is giving them nothing. Remember, they haven’t conceded a goal in the tournament so far.
22 min: Venezuela are honestly playing nothing like the Venezuela I’m used to watching. They are composed, strong and have no fear. It really is great to see.
20 min: Guerra receiving treatment as Herrera landed on his shoulder after a tackle. Venezuela playing with 10 men right now.
17 min: Mexico are making a change. Aquino, injured, is coming off and Tecatito Corona to replace him.
14 min: Mexico now are really pushing at the realization that they could play Argentina if things stay the same. A cross from the left is not met well by Hernandez and keeper collects comfortably.
Here’s the goal.
Wow! What. A. Goal. Venezuela 1-0. #MEXvVEN https://t.co/ONAfJ1feNj
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 14, 2016
Goal! Mexico 0-1 Venezuela (Velazquez 10)
10 min: What a finish by Velazquez! Venezuela got a free kick, dip it in the box and from a cross across the middle, he volleys it in magnificent fashion. Amazing start!
Alexander from Australia writes,
Rural Queensland checking in here. Excited to see if Mexico can avoid Argentina!
6 min: As predicted, it’s all Mexico right now pushing up high and capitalizing on some early nerves from Venezuela. A corner gets cleared but El Tri remain in possession.
Thanks, Daniel. I believe the thought there is to rest him in order to be ready for the quarter-finals.
@lmechegaray do you know the reason behind rondon and his absence ?
— Daniel Freestone (@_danfr) June 14, 2016
3 min: Yellow hard to Gonzalez for Venezuela. Well, I guess the ref is not taking any risks tonight.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance...
Mexico with an 89.5% chance to win Group C https://t.co/H4Ao5Ybg3P
— ESPN FC Mexico (@ESPNFCtri) June 13, 2016
Kick-off
1 min: And we’re off! Mexico playing from left to right wearing their classic home kit. Venezuela wearing all yellow, a la Villareal.
The players are out and ready to line-up for the national anthems. The field looks great, the crowd ready to go. First up, the Mexican anthem, “al grito de guerra.” It was first used in 1854. Next up, Venezuela with “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo” which was adopted in 1881. Both with similar connotations. There will be a moment of silence for the tragedy which occurred in Orlando on Sunday morning. Next up you hear from me it will at kick-off.
Great pic. #Elfuturo
LIVE: Mexico vs Venezuela https://t.co/vSMOuzsn9Z pic.twitter.com/EBErKT3hId
— Goal (@goal) June 13, 2016
We are less than ten minutes away. Alexi Lalas goes with Mexico for the win. I must say, I think the nine changes for El Tri might hurt their rhythm slightly but they should be able to take care of business against a Rondón-less Venezuela.
The players are out on the field warming up. It’s a cool 92 degrees in Houston. There are two major issues which I feel have not been talked about enough during this tournament. The weather and the travel. EURO 2016 players have a much better deal when it comes to those two factors.
I previously mentioned this could end up being a historic evening for Chicharito but there are actually a few more records up for stake for Mexico. Here is ESPN’S Tom Marshall:
Tonight could:
- Extend Mexico’s undefeated run to 22 games, a national team record
- Make it 10 wins out of 10 matches for Juan Carlos Osorio
- Be the night Chicharito levels Jared Borgetti on 46 goals as El Tri’s all-time highest scorer
ICYMI: When Chicha met JJ
Check out the look on Chicharito's face when he gets an idea of how big JJ Watt is. pic.twitter.com/DcWwX2fKKl
— Clay Williams CBS4 (@ClayCBS4) June 13, 2016
Here is Venezuela. Rondón out.
Venezuela: Hernandez; Feltscher, Gonzalez, Angel, Velazquez; Penaranda, Rincon, Seijas, Guerra; Santos, Del Valle. #MEXvVEN #MyCopaColors
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 13, 2016
Here is Mexico’s starting XI. A big one is Guardado’s return. Mexico’s architect.
¡Tenemos once inicial confirmado!@banamex trae para ti la #Alineación del partido.
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) June 13, 2016
¡Vamos México!#Créetela pic.twitter.com/68raNgaNPl
Updated
Preamble
Hello everyone and welcome to Mexico vs Venezuela, a fixture that determines the winner and runner-up of Group C and perhaps more importantly, who will avoid Argentina in the quarter-finals. Before the tournament began I predicted Luis Suarez’s injury would shift the balance of this group in Mexico’s favor and in fact, I have them as winners of the entire competition. Mexico have a talented squad, blessed with depth, determination and led by a very smart manager in Juan Carlos Osorio (still undefeated under the Colombian.) A bigger factor, however, has been the incredible support from their fans, who have served as the eleventh man throughout the group stages. More than 80,000 were present at the Rose Bowl against Jamaica and I expect Houston to have a similar atmosphere, albeit less numbers (NRG stadium holds 71,795.) This is also an important game for Chicharito as he is close to breaking Jared Borgetti’s all-time scoring record for El Tri. The legendary Borgetti has 46 goals in 89 games whilst Hernandez - entering his 85th game - could tie it with a goal tonight.
Venezuela, meanwhile, have been my favorite team to watch partly because I did not see this coming. A perfect record and no goals conceded says a lot for a team who came into this tournament with little belief from any pundit, myself included. And who could blame us? Venezuela are currently last in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with five losses and one tie. Not only that but their defensive unit during those matches have been a disaster (17 goals conceded in six games.) Then came the Copa and suddenly, Vinotinto woke up. Two clean sheets, two wins and a victory tonight would mean Rafael Dudamel’s side make it to the last eight and avoid Argentina. History has justified Venezuela’s efforts in the past as they went all the way to the semi-finals in 2011, losing to Paraguay on penalties.
Remember, you can send me a tweet @lmechegaray or email to chat throughout the game. I’ll be back with the line-ups. This should be a good one!
Luis will be here surely. In the meantime here is Steve Brenner’s post-mortem on Brazil’s disastrous Copa América exit:
On Sunday the Brazil coach, Dunga, looked forlorn on the sidelines. In his second spell as national team manager, his days are surely numbered. Indeed, if it wasn’t for this summer’s Rio Olympics, his seat would surely already be vacant. The man who lifted the World Cup in 1994 – in the US incidentally – knows a gold medal on home soil is the priority, and that’s why Neymar was allowed a breather to hang out with Justin Bieber and other well-heeled compadres.
Clearly losing the services of the brilliant Barcelona forward was something Dunga’s side couldn’t deal with – they scored seven goals in this Copa America but they all came in one game against the tournament’s weakest side, Haiti – though for a country whose production line has long been the envy of the world, there should still have been enough talent to emerge from a group that comprised of Peru, Haiti and Ecuador.
