With a great dose of drama and suspense that the best screenwriter in Hollywood would envy, the Canada’s debuting team ended Venezuela’s dream in the 2024 Copa América by eliminating them in an intense and fateful series of penalties where the squadand the Maple Leaf ended up winning 4-3after an intense 90 minutes that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Now Canada will face the powerful Argentina in the semifinals, an illusion that the Venezuelans cherished and nourished after their spectacular first phase with three victories. in Group B over Ecuador 2-1, Mexico 1-0 and Jamaica 3-0but in fact, the weight of being favorites took them into unknown territory and in the end made them pay a very high price.
An unexpected result because the team led by King Salomon Rondón arrived at the duel against the Canadians with the label of favorite after their spectacular first phase. This Friday, more than 50,000 Venezuelans packed the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hoping to enjoy a well-deserved qualification to the semi-finals to face Argentina.
PBut the unconditional support for the Vinotinto seemed to play against the Venezuelans, since it was Canada that started off strong on the attack with two arrivals by Jonathan Davis. which made Rafael Romo’s goal tremble. But that warning did not seem to alarm the South Americans, as moments later Jacob Shaffelburg scored the 1-0 with a cross from Davis and a shot at the near post by Romo that he could not stop to avoid the goal against.
Venezuela, in its eagerness to react, did not care about extending the field, trying to get Eduard Bello, José Martínez, Yangel Herrera, Yeferson Soteldo and Salomón Rondónwere able to connect in the Canadians’ dangerous zone, but instead of achieving their goal, wanting to win more with haste than with precision, they opened their lines and Shaffelburg, who by the way has the nickname “Messi Marino”, almost scored the second that would have been fatal.
Even in the following play, the MLS Nashville striker took the leading role by putting a ball to David who incredibly missed his shot, But the serious thing was not that, but that Canada did what it wanted and the minimal advantage seemed poor compared to what was seen on the field to the point that the Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was barely bothered on the field.
Adjustments revived Venezuela
For the second half, just like what happened against Mexico, coach Fernando Batista made adjustments that restored the Venezuelans’ faith and joy on the field, As hostilities began, José “Brujo” Martínez could have tied the game, but his shot just went over the crossbar of Crépeau’s goal.
These actions, combined with the fact that Canada no longer attacked as in the first half, gave Venezuela more opportunities.but the anxiety of his own forwards meant that actions such as that of Eduard Bello in the 58th minute were wasted.
But the pitcher was so much in the well that at 64 minutes Salomón Rondón with his great vision of the field, took advantage of the fact that the goalkeeper Crépeau, He came out on a field day to score a goal with a shot almost from midfield that caught the Canadian goalkeeper returning and with no chance of avoiding the fall of his goal for 1-1.
From that moment on, the game broke up and each of the two opponents had chances to generate danger, but in the end, both Rafael Romo and Crépeau added chances. to prevent goals in their goals, making the stadium explode in ecstasy due to the great effort of both teams and which gave way to the luck of the penalties to decide Argentina’s rival in the semi-finals.
The criminal heart attacks
In the penalty shootout, the victory was finally decided when Ismaël Koné scored his shot in the sudden death, unlike his predecessor Wilker Ángel, who was unable to get it into the net with his sixth shot. and with that he left the Maple Leaf team ready to celebrate the victory when Koné hit his shot and put them back as adversaries of the world champions in the current Copa América 2024.
In the round the following were correct for Venezuela: Salomon Rondon, Tomas Rincon and Jhonder Cadiz failed, while Yangel Herrera, Jeferson Savarino and Wilker Angel failed. While for Canada they scored Jonathan David, Moisés Bombito, Alphonso Davies and Ismaël Koné. And Liam Millar and Stephen Eustáquio missed out
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