Soccer fans witnessed a thrilling encounter on Wednesday as Venezuela and Mexico, the top contenders in Group B, clashed in a pivotal Copa America 2024 match. The game, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, was a high-stakes affair with both teams vying for a crucial win to secure their path to the quarter-finals. This timeline will break down the key moments of the Venezuela national football team vs Mexico national football team match.
The match kicked off at 9 PM ET and was broadcast live on FS1 and Univision, drawing a large audience eager to see which team would take the lead in Group B. Both Venezuela and Mexico entered the game with victories from their opening matches, setting the stage for an intense battle.
The following timeline details the events as they unfolded:
Pre-Match Buzz:
The atmosphere was electric at SoFi Stadium as fans filled the stands, predominantly supporting Mexico, as expected. Anticipation was high, with analysts from FOX Sports and other outlets debating whether Mexico were the clear favorites. Player arrivals were documented, showcasing the teams’ focused demeanor as they made their way to the stadium.
Venezuela’s starting XI was announced, revealing their strategy to challenge El Tri. Mexico countered with their own strong lineup, featuring Santiago Gimenez leading the attack. The vibrant alternate uniforms of the Mexican team were also a point of pre-match discussion, adding to the visual spectacle.
Image alt: Vibrant crowd of Mexican soccer fans filling SoFi Stadium for the Venezuela vs Mexico Copa America 2024 match, showcasing fan enthusiasm.
First Half: A Tense Stalemate (Venezuela 0 – 0 Mexico)
0 min: The match begins! Mexico immediately presses, with Uriel Antuna missing an early chance, shooting wide left after a Carlos Rodríguez assist.
2 min: Yeferson Soteldo earns a free kick for Venezuela after a foul by Jorge Sánchez.
5 min: Uriel Antuna is caught offside, halting a Mexican attack.
9 min: Mexico creates another opportunity, with Carlos Rodríguez shooting wide left and Julián Quiñones having a shot blocked. Luis Chávez forces a save from the Venezuelan goalkeeper, Rafael Romo.
12 min: Yeferson Soteldo misses high for Venezuela after being set up by Yangel Herrera.
14 min: Uriel Antuna’s shot is blocked, following a pass from Santiago Giménez.
18 min: Santiago Giménez is denied by Rafael Romo, and Eduard Bello’s shot is blocked at the other end in quick succession, highlighting the end-to-end action.
20 min: Gerardo Arteaga shoots too high for Mexico from close range.
24 min: Carlos Rodríguez’s header is saved. Salomón Rondón is caught offside for Venezuela.
25 min: Mexico earns a corner after Miguel Navarro concedes.
33 min: Salomón Rondón hits the woodwork for Venezuela, nearly scoring on a counter-attack, showcasing Venezuela’s growing threat.
37 min: José Martínez wins a free kick after a foul by Santiago Giménez.
38 min: Santiago Giménez receives a yellow card for a foul. Play is briefly delayed due to an injury to José Martínez.
41 min: Uriel Antuna is offside again.
45 min: Miguel Navarro wins a free kick.
47 min: The first half concludes scoreless, Venezuela 0 – 0 Mexico. Despite chances for both sides, neither team could break the deadlock in an exciting first half.
Image alt: Dynamic midfield play during the first half of the Copa America match between Venezuela and Mexico, intense competition for ball possession.
Second Half: Venezuela Seizes the Lead (Venezuela 1 – 0 Mexico)
45 min: Mexico substitutes Israel Reyes for César Montes at halftime, seeking to strengthen their defense.
49 min: Rafael Romo saves a shot from Yeferson Soteldo early in the second half.
50 min: Salomón Rondón has a shot blocked, and Eduard Bello is caught offside shortly after as Venezuela starts brightly.
54 min: Penalty for Venezuela! Julián Quiñones concedes a penalty after fouling Jon Aramburu in the box.
56 min: GOAL! Venezuela 1 – 0 Mexico. Salomón Rondón confidently converts the penalty, giving Venezuela the lead.
58 min: Venezuela wins a corner.
60 min: Double substitution for Mexico, with Guillermo Martínez and Alexis Vega replacing Santiago Giménez and Carlos Rodríguez, aiming to inject fresh attacking impetus.
66 min: Johan Vásquez’s shot is blocked as Mexico responds to going behind.
70 min: Darwin Machís replaces Eduard Bello for Venezuela.
72 min: César Huerta replaces Uriel Antuna for Mexico.
82 min: Penalty for Mexico! Miguel Navarro is penalized for a handball in the box after a VAR review.
86 min: Penalty SAVED! Orbelín Pineda’s penalty is saved by Rafael Romo, a crucial moment as Mexico fails to equalize.
88 min: Christian Makoun replaces Yangel Herrera for Venezuela.
90 min: Rafael Romo makes another save to deny César Huerta, and Guillermo Martínez also sees a close-range shot saved.
97 min: The match concludes, Venezuela 1 – 0 Mexico. Venezuela secures a monumental victory, clinching their place in the Copa America quarter-finals!
Image alt: Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo heroically saving Orbelín Pineda’s penalty kick during the intense Copa America 2024 match against Mexico.
Post-Match Analysis:
Venezuela’s resilient performance, particularly in defense and goalkeeper Rafael Romo’s heroics, secured them a 1-0 victory over Mexico. Salomón Rondón’s penalty proved to be the decisive goal, while Rafael Romo’s penalty save and overall excellent goalkeeping earned him man-of-the-match honors.
Mexico, despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, were unable to break down Venezuela’s defense. Orbelín Pineda’s missed penalty was a critical moment that could have changed the game’s trajectory. The absence of Edson Alvarez was visibly felt in Mexico’s midfield.
This result marks a significant win for Venezuela, propelling them into the quarter-finals and highlighting their growing strength in South American football. For Mexico, it’s a setback, and they will need to regroup quickly to secure their qualification for the next round. The match timeline clearly illustrates Venezuela’s tactical discipline and Mexico’s frustrating inability to convert opportunities into goals.
