Ecuador get their Copa America campaign off to a bad start against Venezuela after their captain dropped out. There was also bad news for Mexico in their 1-0 loss to Jamaica
Venezuela lead Group B at the Copa America after the first matchday – not many had expected that. But the 54th-ranked team in the world managed a surprising 2:1 win against Ecuador on Sunday night (CEST). At Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where many seats remained empty, it was Ecuador’s captain who set Venezuela on course.
Enner Valencia, who had scored both goals in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup against hosts Qatar to make it 2-0, kicked his opponent José Andres Martinez full in the chest as he tried to reach a rebound in the opponent’s five-meter area. After a VAR check, the 34-year-old former Premier League player (West Ham, Everton) was shown a straight red in the 22nd minute
The Ecuadorians, number 30 in the FIFA rankings and with Bundesliga professionals Piero Hincapie (Leverkusen) and Willian Pacho (Frankfurt) in the back four, took the lead through Jeremy Sarmiento (40′) despite being outnumbered, but found themselves under increasing pressure after the break and ended up losing. First, substitute Jhonder Cadiz equalized after a quickly taken throw-in (64′), then Joker colleague Eduard Bello made it 2:1 (74′)
Mexico beat Jamaica – Copa exit for Alvarez?
In the second match of Group B, Mexico and Jamaica, two of the six CONCACAF teams invited to the tournament, faced each other. The Mexicans, Copa finalists in 1993 and 2001, were the favorites to win by a narrow 1-0 margin, but were unable to celebrate. After just half an hour, Edson Alvarez had to be substituted in pain and tears. The West Ham professional, who Borussia Dortmund would have liked to have signed a year ago, went down in his 80th international match without the intervention of an opponent and is in danger of being ruled out for the rest of the Copa.
Left-back Gerardo Arteaga scored the first three points, which were well deserved given the clear advantage in chances, with a powerful 16-meter left-footed shot into the right corner (69′). Mexico then continue their campaign against Venezuela on Thursday (3:00 CEST).
