Venezuela knows victory in the South American U20 Championship
Venezuela learned of its victory in the South American U20 Championship on Thursday by defeating the Ecuadorian team 4-2, in the second round of the final hexagonal of the qualifying tournament for the next World Cup in South Korea.
Venezuela's comfortable victory
The Venezuelan team, which had previously drawn all five of its games, achieved a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Yangel Herrera (40 minutes), Yeferson Soteldo (52, penalty), Ronaldo Chacón (55), and Sergio Córdova (63).
The home team, who were down 4-0, scored with penalty goals from Pervis Estupiñán (87) and Bryan Cabezas (90+7).
The vinotinto climbed to second place in the standings with 4 points, trailing Uruguay (6) and ahead of Argentina (3), Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador (all with 1).
The vinotinto, which has conceded the most goals in the competition, surprised in the match played at the Olympic Stadium Atahualpa by taking a 1-0 lead with Herrera's goal at 40 minutes.
In a play near the right wing, Soteldo passed the ball back to Herrera, who easily defeated the tricolor goalkeeper José Cevallos with a long-range shot.
Herrera's left-footed goal, who was cautioned a few seconds after the start of the match, shocked the Ecuadorians, who although they had little attack on Fariñez's goal, were able to control the game at the beginning.
Soteldo, Ecuador's nightmare, stole the ball when they were trying to clear the danger and started the first Venezuelan goal.
At 52 minutes, Soteldo scored again: he made it 2-0 with a penalty kick after a foul by Ecuador's Luis Segovia on Ronaldo Peña.
The 3-0 rout emerged from Chacón's intelligence at 55 minutes. He eluded several tricolores to score in a play where Soteldo couldn't be missing.
If you can't score, provide the opportunity. In the 63rd minute, he served Córdova, who scored 4-0 by just stretching his leg to push the ball in.
From then on, the "ole...ole...ole" chant from the vinotinto fans was heard in the stadium.
In the third round of the final hexagonal of the South American Championship, being held in Quito, the Venezuelans will face the Brazilians and the Ecuadorians will face the Argentinians in matches scheduled for Sunday.
AFP
Preview
Ecuador vs. Venezuela: They will face each other tonight (LIVE at 8:30 pm) in the second round of the U20 South American Championship. The match will take place at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium in Quito.
► WATCH THE GOALS FROM THE 2-2 DRAW BETWEEN BRAZIL AND ECUADOR
For the Ecuadorian team, Venezuela can be much more complicated than Brazil, and that is why they will play cautiously in the match against the vinotinto on Thursday in Quito for the U20 South American Championship, said Ecuadorian defender Pervis Estupiñán.
"We must be careful with Venezuela," emphasized the Ecuadorian player, who knows that he will have to mark Soteldo closely on the wing.
The match against the vinotinto is crucial for the hosts, who feel prepared "physically and mentally" to not only defeat Venezuela, but also to qualify for the World Cup in South Korea later this year.
That's why Estupiñán, in a press conference at the National Team's headquarters, didn't hesitate to affirm that the "Tri" wants "to add three points" against Venezuela to continue on the path to qualification.
For him, the 2-2 draw against Brazil in the first round was like overcoming one of the biggest obstacles of the hexagonal, although he acknowledged that in such a short and competitive tournament, all opponents are difficult.
► VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA DRAW 1-1 AT THE START OF THE U20 SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador have advanced to the final round of the U20 South American Championship, which will award four spots for the World Cup in South Korea.
However, Kevin Minda, another Ecuadorian defender, goes further and dreams: "Why not become South American champions?" and break the tournament's history.
Minda recognized that there have been many flaws in the team's performance, especially against Brazil, but he highlighted the value and courage of his teammates to come back from a two-goal disadvantage against the auriverdes and equalize a match in which Ecuador could have even won.
"Brazil is perhaps the strongest team" in the hexagonal, but one of the lessons that game left is that if Ecuador "puts pressure, no opponent can play" calmly.
In addition, as Minda said in the press conference, Ecuador recently played a friendly match against Venezuela and already knows their strengths and weaknesses.
For example, the llaneros are "fast on the wings" and have "good players," but "on the pitch, you have to know who is the best," added Minda to conclude: "We want to reach the World Cup and, why not, become champions, especially since we are playing at home."
EFE