INGLEWOOD — The Copa America tournament offered the Mexican national team a unique set of challenges ahead of the upcoming push toward the 2026 World Cup. Coach Jaime Lozano chose to select an inexperienced roster, looking to start a youth movement in the program. After Wednesday night, there is a strong possibility that Mexico’s tournament could end this weekend, which would leave a lot of questions to be answered regarding the future. Salomón Rondón converted a penalty shot in the 57th minute, and Venezuela survived some harrowing moments for a 1-0 win in front of 72,773 at SoFi Stadium.
“We are very happy to bring joy to Venezuelan people,” Venezuela coach Fernando Batista said. “It’s always nice to win. We were organized, never giving up attitude, making sacrifices … sometimes we didn’t have possession, but we never gave up. “I always tell them that they have to believe in themselves and as a group and they did that.” The win moves Venezuela into sole possession of first place in Group B on six points (2-0) and clinches a berth in the upcoming quarterfinals. Mexico (1-1) is on three points, tied with Ecuador. Venezuela’s lead didn’t look as if it would hold up as Mexico’s Orbelín Pineda stepped up to take a penalty after a handball was called and confirmed via video review. Pineda fired low and to Venezuela’s goalkeeper Rafael Romo’s right and Romo came up with the save. Mexico piled up on the chances after that, but were unable to beat Romo, who finished with five saves and earned Man of the Match honors. Venezuela ended a 13-game winless streak against El Tri.
The first half was a frustrating one for Mexico, especially for forward Santiago Gimenez. Gimenez, who scored the winning goal in Mexico’s Gold Cup final against Panama, also at SoFi Stadium, missed a prime scoring chance in the 19th minute. Gimenez was in a 1-on-1 situation but he whiffed on the attempt. Later, Rondón’s chance at the opening goal hit the post, eventually sending the game into halftime scoreless. Mexico’s tournament got off to a mixed start with its 1-0 victory over Jamaica last Saturday. However, in the first half, captain Edson Alvarez (Manchester City) suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out of the tournament. In a social media message, Alvarez said he was making the decision to stay with the team “until the end to support and encourage them.” Venezuela’s best finish ever in the Copa America was fourth in 2011. In Wednesday’s other Group B game, Ecuador (1-1) moved to three points with a 3-1 win against Jamaica (0-2). The teams conclude group stage play on Sunday. Venezuela faces Jamaica at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
“We need to remain calm and with our feet on the ground,” Batista said. “We are going to enjoy this tonight, but tomorrow we are going to be focused on Jamaica.” While the Vinotinto reached the quarterfinals for the third time in four tournaments, Mexico is on the verge of first-round elimination for the third time in its last four Copa America trips. El Tri will meet Ecuador at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with a chance to advance out of the group at stake for both nations. “We still have an opportunity (to advance),” Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said. “This was a heated match, players were very frustrated and with coming off of matches like this and our performance, we will work for a win. “This team performs well in adversity. No one is getting off of this ship. I think we will make it. We have one result we’re after and it is one that takes us to the next round.”
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico was eliminated in the first round for the first time since 1978. They lost to the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League final in March and have not beaten the Americans since 2019. “It’s a learning experience, but I’m proud of the team because they never stopped fighting. Now it’s up to us and we just talked about it in the locker room,” Lozano said. “We are hurt now, but playing like this, it’s going to be hard for us to lose another game.”
