Copa America 2024 Group B Recaps: Venezuela Win After Valencia Red Card; Alvarez Injured in Mexico's Win
La Vinotinto notched a group altering win thanks to an early first half red card to Enner Valencia while Mexico topped Jamaica late.
The destiny of Group B was changed drastically just twenty minutes into the group when Ecuador captain Enner Valencia was given a straight red card and two second half Venezuela goals and a second half Mexico winner saw both teams to the top of the group.
VENEZUELA 2, ECUADOR 1
John Yeboah started Ecuador with a solo counter run leading to a shot on Rafael Romo’s (4 saves) net in the 11th minute. A few minutes later a wild sequence saw a penalty shout waved off for Ecuador, a no call at midfield give them the ball back, and Kendry Paez force a great save. But Romo allowed the rebound in the middle of the box and it was cleared by Venezuela defensive midfielder Jose Martinez but Valencia followed through and caught Martinez with a high boot near his neck.
After a VAR review Valencia was sent off, and Venezuela nearly took the lead moments later through captain and striker Salomon Rondon but his close range redirect went straight into Ecuador keeper Alexander Dominguez (3 saves) who knew little about the initial save but pounced on the loose ball.
But it was Ecuador who struck first late in the first half despite the man disadvantage. Jeremy Sarmiento pounced on a half clearance following a set piece and hit a low drive into the back corner in the 40th minute.
Just after the hour mark however, Venezuela would find their equalizer in the 64th minute. A quick throw in caught Ecuador (and the cameraman) off guard, and Rondon put a centering pass into the middle where substitute Jhonder Cadiz fired home thanks to a slight deflection through the legs of Ecuador defender Felix Torres.
Ten minutes later, another substitute Eduard Bello would put Venezuela ahead. In the 74th minute Rondon put a sharp header on target which was saved by Dominguez. But before the Ecuador keeper could recover, Bello reacted first to the rebound at the near post and chipped it over the sprawled out keeper for the winning goal.
MEXICO 1, JAMAICA 0
Mexico’s Geradro Arteaga scored a nice 69th minute winner against Jamaica as their 1-0 win was marred by a serious injury to midfielder Edson Alvarez in the first half.
Just minute in El Tri almost took the lead when Luis Chavez latched on to a ball at the top of the box only to see his shot saved by a diving Jahmali Waite (8 saves) in the Jamaica net deputizing for Andre Blake.
Right before the half hour mark, Jamaica started out on a counter attack with Alvarez tracking back. Jamaica slowed down the attack but Alvarez pulled up lame grabbing the back of his leg and had to be substitute off for Luis Romo.
While the game went into halftime scoreless, Jamaica came out with some of their best play seeing Kasey Palmer’s 46th minute shot saved by Julio Gonzalez (4 saves) and the subsequent rebound cleared. Five minutes later, Michail Antonio thought he had Jamaica’s opener after he headed home a recycled cross into the far post but VAR confirmed he was offside.
The buildup to Mexico’s winner saw them put a lot of pressure on the Jamaican goal starting with two good chances for Julian Quinones right after the hour mark. In the 69th minute, Romo laid off a half clearance and Arteaga blistered home from the top of the area giving Waite little chance to react.
GROUP OVERVIEW
The wins put Venezuela and Mexico on top of the group with Ecuador facing a tough road into the knockouts without Valencia. Ecuador will need a result without their suspended captain against Jamaica on Wednesday June 26th in Las Vegas while Venezuela and Mexico will have a top of the table clash at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.