COPA AMERICA USA 2024 (SMI-GLOBAL-SPORTS-JUNE 20-JULY 14, 2024)-Rising Star " Venezuela " scored two goals within 10' in the second half as the " Vinotinto "
overcame Ecuador 2-0, on its opening match in Group B, claiming its first 3-points in the tournament  @ Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, California. 

Venezuela has become the newest sensational team in the Conmebol South-America World Cup Qualifiers for USA/Mexico/Canada 2026, who find themselves in fourth place with 9-points  in the standings, registering 2 victories, 3-draws & one loss in one of the most difficult qualifiers region of the world.
 
Both teams exchanged counter-attacks for the first 18' minute until the Vinotinto caught a break when Ecuadorian Top-striker Enner Valencia was sent-off at 21' mark due to a dangerous high-kick foul inside the penalty box against midfielder Jose Martinez, leaving Ecuador with a 10-men roster the rest of the game. 

Venezuela controlled the midfield with the extra men and had numerous countered-attacks with a chance to score but the shots barely missed the back of the net.

In the 38' minute on a direct kick centered inside the 18', Jeremy Sarmiento found a bouncing ball that Venezuelan defender Yordan Osorio failed to clear, shot a right footed to lower goal post to put Ecuador in front 1-0, over the Vinotinto at the half. 

In the second half, Venezuela's head coach Fernando Batista made two substitutions sending Jhonder Cadiz for Darwin Machis and Eduardo Bello for Cristian Casseres into the game that seemed to pay-off since both scored two goals in span of 10' minutes to overcome the deficit and win the game for the Vinotinto.

Venezuela found the equalizer at 64' mark through a play originated by Eduardo Bello with a throw-in centered inside the penalty box to Salomon Rondon who gave it to Jhonder Cadiz and shot a lower right-footed to tie the game 1-1, sending the crowd wild in euphoria. 

Ten minutes later, the Vinotinto once again in a counter-attack through the right-side field corner, defender Alexander Gonzales centered a ball inside the 18' finding Salomon Rondon who headed it to goal but bounce-off Ecuadorian's goalkeeper A. Rodriguez hands and Bello who was inside the 6-yard box scored with a right-footed to put Venezuela in front 2-1, at 74' mark and sealed the victory for the Vinotinto.

Article Written by Marcello Cutti II/Starlight Illustrated