A makeshift Venezuela XI faced Brazil yesterday after Peseiro’s squad was plagued with injury and positive PCR results.
It led to full debuts for four players:
🇻🇪@DvoLaGuaira’s Adrián Martínez, Francisco La Mantia, & Yohan Cumana
🇺🇸@PhilaUnion’s Brujo Martínez
🧶A Thread:
Adrian Martínez - CB, 27
He was playing in the Venezuelan second division just 3 years ago and now he’s scored in the Libertadores and made his international debut against a front three of Richarlison, Neymar, and Gabriel Jesus.
Four years on from a 7 minute cameo vs. USA, La Mantia made his full debut. A 2020 Liga FUTVE champion and produce of successful academy @AcEmFC, he arrived in Brazil as emergency back up less than 24 hours before KO.
If England had a left mid problem in the 00s, Venezuela have a left back problem now. Cumana has done well for former national team assistant Daniel Farías at club level and, aptly, as part of a back 5. Nevertheless, a tough debut.
Playing out of position on the right of a 4-man midfield of central players, ‘The Wizard’ excelled. He took on the unenviable responsibility of doubling up on Neymar and his energetic, hustling performance showed why he’s loved.
|Brazil vs. Venezuela|#CopaAmerica|
- Match Thread
José Peseiro names a 5-4-1 for the competition opener. The 7-man bench contains 2 goalkeepers and the starting XI sees four players make their full international debuts. In 26 games between the two, 🇧🇷 have won 22 & scored 90.
In the history of the tie, Venezuela have achieved 3 draws and just 1 win, scoring a total of 8 goals. The last Copa América tie with Brazil finished 0-0. Today, that would be a miracle.
Brazil go with the starting XI reported by Brazilian media outlet Globo yesterday. The hosts have no intention of going gently on their severely impacted opponents it seems.
José Peseiro has stayed level-headed in pre-match press conferences, promising 300% from Venezuela.
Estudiantes face Hermanos in a match which could change the direction of either’s year.
Estudiantes can leap to 2nd, while Hermanos could rocket to 3rd. This match’s previous edition gave Hermanos their 1st win of the season. #FutVe
3’: GOOOOOL! ⚽️
Jesús Gómez scores from the penalty spot following a foul in the box to give Estudiantes an early lead!
It’s a calm and confident penalty attempt, which sends the keeper the wrong way and makes it 1-0. #FutVe
10’: Edson Rivas finds the back of the net for Estudiantes but is ruled offside shortly after a burst of possession for Hermanos in the final third. 1-0. #FutVe
Have your commentator’s notes gone out the window with news of multiple positive COVID cases in the Venezuela team and the emergency call-up of 15 additional players?
🧶Thread: Here’s the backstory to their much changed and last minute Copa America squad:
🗓31 May: Venezuela Announce Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Yordan Osorio (CB, Parma), Yangel Herrera (CM, Man City), Yeferson Soteldo (W, Toronto), and Salomón Rondón (Dalian Pro) are all absent through injury. Darwin Machís (W, Granada) goes onto miss both games with a knock.
🗓03 & 08 June: World Cup Qualifiers vs. Bolivia & Uruguay
Venezuela lose 3-1 to 🇧🇴 in La Paz and draw 0-0 with 🇺🇾 in Caracas. Wilker Ángel (CB, unattached) tests positive for COVID and will miss the Copa América. Joel Graterol (GK, América de Cali) plays both games. #vinotinto
Barely room to breathe between tonight’s two games! Táchira can go top with a win and have named a fairly strong side to ensure it happens. Zulia sit second from bottom despite beating Táchira 5-0 already this season. Tight group.
1’: Zulia have been fun to watch this season. Their record of 2-2-2 has been laden with a total of 18 goals: an average of per game. With the pace of Heiderber Ramírez and trickery of Yanowsky Reyes behind young striker Junior Paredes, hopefully we see plenty tonight. 0-0. #futve
4’: Táchira’s front four is a lot of fun, too: wingers Yerson Chacón (18) and Freddy Gondola (🇵🇦) flank veteran captain Edgar Perez Greco and Douglas Angarita, both local lads. 0-0. #futve
There’s been plenty of Venezuelan action in Spain these past 7 days, with midweek and weekend fixtures, goals, and assists. As always, we have it all covered for you in a handy thread!
🇻🇪🏃🏽♀️⚽️ #futfem
Roundup below⬇️ 1/7
Primera Iberdrola:
Wednesday 27/01 (Matchday 17)
Real Sociedad 5-1 Real Betis
Betis’ difficult season continues under a new management team. Oriana Altuve played the 90’, but service to the striker was minimal. It is a frustrating campaign for a finisher at her peak. #futfem
Thursday 28/1
Levante UD 3-0 Atlético de Madrid
Deyna Castellanos played the whole game, but it was a rare defeat for Atleti who beat this exact opposition in the Supercopa final earlier this month. Days later, Castellanos would return to scoring form. #futve#venex 3/7