Venezuela vs Canada

Watch Venezuela vs Canada full match replay and highlight. This is a match of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Quarter-Finals.
Kick off: 01:00 GMT Saturday Jul 6, 2024.

Referee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio, Brazil.
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

Canada Edges Venezuela in Penalty Shootout to Reach Copa América Semi-Finals

Canada will face defending Copa América winners Argentina in the semi-finals after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Venezuela (1-1 after 90 minutes) at the AT&T Stadium.

Match Overview

Venezuela, having dominated the group stages with three consecutive wins, started aggressively against Canada. The in-form Salomón Rondón, with two goals already in the tournament, forced Canada keeper Maxime Crépeau into action within the first three minutes. However, Canada took the lead in the 13th minute against the run of play. Jonathan David’s pinpoint pass found Jacob Shaffelburg, who fired past Rafael Romo to break the deadlock. Shaffelburg nearly doubled his tally, but Romo made a brilliant one-handed save to keep Venezuela in the game. David then missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead, placing a one-on-one effort wide.

Second Half

Canada seemed poised to make the semi-finals on their Copa América debut, but Cyle Larin’s miss, sending his shot high into the stands, proved costly. Just beyond the hour mark, Rondón capitalized on Crépeau being out of position and lifted the ball over the keeper to equalize for Venezuela.

Canada almost regained the lead immediately, but Liam Millar was denied by Romo’s miraculous save. The game remained level, leading to a penalty shootout.

Penalty Shootout

Maxime Crépeau emerged as Canada’s hero in the shootout, saving penalties from Wilker Ángel and Jefferson Savarino. Ismail Ikoné scored the decisive spot-kick, sending Canada through to the semi-finals. Venezuela, despite their strong performance, were left heartbroken, missing out on a semi-final appearance for over a decade.

Key Takeaways

• Canada’s Resilience: Despite Venezuela’s early dominance, Canada took their chances and showed great composure in the penalty shootout.
• Maxime Crépeau’s Heroics: The Canadian goalkeeper’s crucial saves in the shootout were pivotal to their victory.
• Salomón Rondón’s Impact: Venezuela’s star forward once again demonstrated his quality, though it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Match Highlights

• Jacob Shaffelburg’s Opener: A clinical finish that gave Canada the early lead.
• Salomón Rondón’s Equalizer: A brilliant long-range effort that showcased his skill and awareness.
• Penalty Shootout Drama: Crépeau’s saves and Ikoné’s winning penalty highlighted the tension and excitement of the shootout.

Looking Ahead

Canada’s victory sets up a challenging semi-final against Argentina, the defending champions. The match will test Canada’s mettle as they aim for a historic final appearance.