Venezuela earned a shock 1-0 win over Colombia in Group C of the Copa America this evening, to give them a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
Salomon Rondon's exceptional header in the second half earned the minnows a deserved victory against the fifth best team in the world, in a hot and sweaty Rancagua.
Colombia were left frustrated as many of their stars failed to turn up and they missed several golden opportunities late in the match to snatch a draw.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action.
Good evening all and welcome to day four of the Copa America, as Colombia take on Venezuela. On paper this might look like a straight forward fixture for last year's World Cup quarter-finalists, but Venezuela are a tough nut to crack. Kickoff is at 8pm.
Today is all about Group C as Brazil face Peru later tonight, in a match you can also follow live with us here at Sports Mole. Colombia and Brazil are the red-hot favourites to progress from this group, but Venezuela can put a spanner in the works.
The minnows may never have been to a World Cup, but they have won three of their last five games against Colombia and will be hopeful of an upset. They boast the likes of striker Salomon Rondon, so can't be taken lightly.
However, this is a star-studded Colombian squad, with the likes of Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Jackson Martinez in the ranks. Jose Pekerman's men have the squad to win this tournament, and could cause Brazil and Argentina all kinds of problems in the latter stages.
TEAM NEWS: The big news from the Estadio El Teniente is that Falcao starts for Colombia. He may have had a dismal campaign for Manchester United, but he is still central to Colombia's plans. Salomon Rondon has overcome a slight injury and starts for Venezuela, so both nations are able to call upon their number one strikers.
COLOMBIA: Ospina, Zuniga, Zapata, Murillo, Armero, Cuadrado, Sanchez, Valencia, Rodriguez, Bacca, Falcao.
VENEZUELA: Baroja, Rosales, Vizcarrondo, Tunez, Amorebieta, Rincon, Seijas, Arango, Guerra, Vargas, Rondon.
There are plenty of Premier League stars on show tonight. Along side Falcao is David Ospina, Cuadrado and Carlos Sanchez for Colombia, while Fulham's Fernando Amorebieta starts for Venezuela.
However, there is surely no one hotter than James Rodriguez. The attacking midfielder starred at the World Cup last summer for Colombia and earned himself a mega-money move to Real Madrid. He enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in La Liga, and is amongst the very best players in the world.
Colombia are currently ranked fifth in the world and are currently on a run of seven straight wins. Their opponents currently linger down in 72nd place, although they are also in good form and have won three of their last four.
PREDICTION: Despite Venezuela's credentials as plucky under dogs, it is impossible to look past Colombia for this match. Their incredible arsenal of attacking talent should be too much for their opponents and we're going for a 3-1 win.
The two captains have led their players out into the sunshine to a rapturous reception. Kickoff will follow the anthems.
The anthems have been sung whole-heatedly and it's now time for the action!
KICK OFF! Venezuela get us underway!
It's a good start for David Ospina in the Colombia goal as he rushes out to catch a deep cross from the right.
SHOT! Colombia have the first shot of the game as Rodriguez finds space on the edge of the box. The Real Madrid star lets fly, but it's deflected wide for a corner.
It's not been the fast start Jose Pekerman wanted his side to make. They've struggled to keep possession, and looked ragged at the back.
CHANCE! That's really poor defending from Colombia, who give the ball away to Rondon on the half-way line. The big forward sets Alejandro Guerra free down the left, and his low cross almost finds Rondon at the back post, with the goal gaping. Fortunately for the former champions, Zapata concedes a corner.
This has been a very impressive start from Venezuela, who are pressing high up the pitch and applying pressure on Colombia's players. They barely have time to think, let alone pick a pass.
CLOSE! Venezuela come with inches of taking the lead, but Ospina does brilliantly to prevent Guerra from having a tap-in. Ronald Vargas found space down the right, but his cross was inches too far ahead of Rondon. Ospina dived at Guerra's feet, but isn't happy with how the forward went for the ball.
After two minutes of treatment, Ospina is fine to continue.
YELLOW CARD! Venezuela's Luis Seijas is the first man to be booked for a late tackle on the half-way line.
Finally Colombia give Venezuela's goalkeeper something to worry about as Cuadrado scampers down the right and floats a cross towards Bacca. However, Alain Baroja does well and claims the ball in the air.
Colombia are enjoying more of the ball now, but they are yet to penetrate Venezuela's rigid defence.
YELLOW CARD! Fernando Amorebieta joins his team-mate Seijas in the book for a late tackle. He has no complaints.
Rodriguez should do better for Colombia here! He picks the ball up on the half-way line and powers forward at the retreating defenders. However, he delays his pass and eventually gets tackled, much to the annoyance of Falcao, who was in space.
SAVE! Ospina is busy again, and makes a low save to keep the scores level. Vargas has continued to make a nuisance of himself, and here he finds himself in room down the left-hand side of the box. However, his low prod is kept out at point-blank range by the Arsenal shot-stopper.
Venezuela want a penalty for a heavy shove by Sanchez. The referee isn't falling for that though, but replays suggest that they had a case!
There is a break in play here as Venezuela's Tomas Rincon receives medical treatment for an injury.
The tackles have certainly been flying in today, as Pablo Armero kicks down Vargas by the corner flag. There are a lot of heated discussions taking place, and the referee is in the middle of things.
Rincon is lucky to escape from a booking for a cynical foul on Sanchez. This gives Rodriguez the chance to whip in a free kick, but it's over-hit and out for a throw.
Cuarado has a chance to swing a better ball in, but he also wastes it by hitting it too far. Colombia have been very poor.
Finally Colombia pressurise Venezuela's defence. A couple of low crosses come to nothing, but at least their opponents looked a little shaken.
SAVE! Ospina has been the best player on the pitch so far, and he makes another great save to deny Guerra. The attacking player made some space for himself on the edge of the box, but his powerful effort is beaten away.
Final chance of the half? Colombia have a free kick in a great position for Rodriguez to whip in a cross...
...it comes to nothing though, as Venezuela clear their lines.
HALF TIME! COLOMBIA 0-0 VENEZUELA
Thankfully Andres Cunha does us all an favour and brings that dismal half to an end. Colombia have been well below par so far and need to up their game if they are going to win this, but Venezuela have been brilliant. They have executed their game-plan to perfection and have frustrated their more illustrious opponents.
The best chances have fallen to Venezuela so far, and Jose Pekermann can thank his goalkeeper for keeping them in the game. Two saves from Vargas and Guerra stand out, and Ospina will be hoping that Arsene Wenger is watching somewhere! The Arsenal manager is reportedly chasing Petr Cech, but Ospina looks more than capable of being the Gunners' long-term number one on this form.
Colombia's stars need to drastically improve after the break. Falcao has been anonymous, Rodriguez has been wasteful and Cuadrado has lacked quality when it matters.
Venezuela's only concern is that they may end up with 10 men! The referee has been kept far too busy so far, and they need to stop making such cynical fouls.
However, they will also know that Colombia can't surely play that bad again. They must be prepared for a barrage of attacks after the break.
Both managers have delivered their team talks and we're almost ready to resume here in Rancagua.
KICK OFF! Colombia start the second half!
Neither coach has felt the need to make a change at the break, but I'm sure it won't be long until we see Jackson Martinez if Colombia don't improve.
SHOT! Carlos Sanchez isn't know for his goal-scoring abilities, and that shows with a poor volley from the edge of the box which flies high and wide.
SHOT! Colombia have made a bright start to the half, and keep possession nicely. Rodriguez becomes the latest player to have a shot from range, with a horrible half-volley which he drags wide of the near post. It's a little more positive from Pekerman's men though.
SHOT! A brilliant block denies Rodriguez the opening goal! Colombia have really upped the tempo of their play, and it almost brings works as his goalbound shot on the turn clatters into a Venezuelan defender a few yards out.
YELLOW CARD! Carlos Sanchez is the second Colombian to receive a yellow card for a poor tackle.
Rondon is livid with the linesman and he has every right to be! The big striker wins a header and it loops onto the cross bar, but the linesman calls for a foul. Replays show that the decision was harsh. Imagine if that had gone in?!
This is still an ugly game to watch, as it continues to be broken up by cynical fouls. How long will Pekerman persevere with Falcao and Bacca up front?
GOAL! COLOMBIA 0-1 VENEZUELA (RONDON)
GOAL: What a brilliant header from Salomon Rondon!! Venezuela take the lead at the end of a rapid counter-attack. A clever cross from the right finds Arango at the back post and he heads it back to Rondon on the penalty spot. The striker uses his bulging neck muscles to direct it into the corner and past a desperate Ospina. What a shock this could be!
SUBSTITUTE! Colombia react by sending on Edwin Cardona in place of Carlos Sanchez.
STAT! Colombia have failed to have a shot on target, while Venezuela have had two. Incredible.
CHANCE! Will the Colombia of a year ago please stand up? Incredibly, it's Venezuela who look likely to score next and they almost manage to! Guerra's cute cross finds Vargas in the box but he fails to get a good connection on the ball. Big chance.
Rodriguez is having a shocker today! Yet again, he fails to produce the goods from a set-piece as he over-hits a free-kick into the arms of the keeper.
Baroja has gone down injured after claiming the free kick. He's receiving medical attention.
YELLOW CARD! Zapata is booked for a poor challenge in the air!
SUBSTITUTE! Finally Pekerman makes a change and decides to haul off the disappointing Carlos Bacca. But instead of Martinez, he brings on Teofilo Gutierrez.
CHANCE! By some distance this is Colombia's best chance of the match, and Gutierrez ruins it! The substitute collects a brilliant pass from Rodriguez inside the box and finds himself in acres of space down the left. However, he delays his shot and it eventually gets blocked! That could be costly.
YELLOW CARD! This is Dean Windass-esque from Venezuela's Carlos Valdes. He's not even on the pitch, but he gets booked for delaying a Colombian throw. He must have seen the great Windass do something similar against Stoke City several years ago!
SAVE! Colombia are getting desperate now, but they are starting to create chances. This time a left-wing cross finds Falcao in the box, but his tame header is easily saved.
CLOSE! BRILLIANT SAVE!! Rodriguez thinks he's equalised with a low drive from the edge of the box, but Baroja dives low to tip it round the post. Cardona then gets the ball from the corner and smashes it towards the near post, but the keeper is there once again to turn it away.
SUBSTITUTE! Pekerman is going for it now as he replaces Armero will Jackson Martinez, who is reportedly a transfer target for Arsenal.
YELLOW CARD! Oswaldo Vizcarrondo is the recipient of the sixth yellow of the day as he hauls back Martinez.
CLOSE! Cardona stands over the free kick, but he curls it inches wide of the near post. Baroja seemed to have it covered.
CHANCE! Martinez is causing havoc in the Venezuela box and it almost leads to a goal for Cuadrado. He knocks down a clipped cross into space, but the Chelsea winger volleys wide from eight yards.
YELLOW CARD! Rodriguez's miserable day gets worse as he is shown the yellow card for a late foul.
CLOSE! Colombia really are bombing forward now, and Gutierrez has a chance at the back post from a deep cross. However, he gets his angles wrong and heads it over the top.
The referee decides that there will be five added minutes!
This sums up Colombia's day...Rodriguez is crying for the ball in acres of space on the left, but Cardona unforgivably lofts it over his head and out of play. Woeful.
CHANCE!! A loose ball falls for Martinez in the box, but his shot is blocked from 10 yards out!
FULL TIME: COLOMBIA 0-1 VENEZUELA
There it is! Venezuela have pulled off an almighty shock today by beating Colombia 1-0!!
Salomon Rondon's perfect header has won them the game, and they absolutely deserve it! Colombia huffed and puffed late on and did start to create chances, but they were far from their best and have a lot to do if they want to qualify for the knock-out stages!
Colombia face Brazil in three days time, and they must win that if they are to have a chance of progressing through to the quarter-finals. Venezuela will face Peru, knowing that a win will all but secure their passage into the knock-out rounds for the third time in a row.
Remember that you can follow both of those games live with us this week.
However, that is all from me tonight! But fear not as Brazil and Peru are due to get underway in less than half-an-hour and you can follow that right here. Otherwise, thank you for joining me and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the weekend. Good night.
Written by
Charlie Bennett
Charlie Bennett
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