Venezuela Dominates Jamaica 3-0 to Secure Top Spot in Copa América Group B
Venezuela recovered from a slow first half to comfortably beat Jamaica 3-0 in Austin, securing the top spot in Group B and maintaining their unbeaten record in Copa América 2024.
Match Summary
Despite both teams having little at stake in the final group game—Venezuela had already secured a Round of 16 berth, and Jamaica was eliminated—La Vinotinto aimed to finish the group stage strong. A draw would have sufficed for Venezuela to clinch first place in Group B and set up a quarterfinal clash with Canada. Fernando Batista’s men dominated possession early on, yet struggled to convert this into clear scoring opportunities against a resilient Jamaican defense.
First Half: A Stalemate
Salomón Rondón and Eduard Bello posed the most significant threats for Venezuela, but the first half saw few clear chances. Rondón’s best effort came in the 38th minute, sailing over the crossbar, while Darwin Machís’s cross was tipped over by Jamaican goalkeeper Jahmali White. Jamaica, too, found it difficult to break through Venezuela’s defense, with Michail Antonio’s attempts lacking the creativity needed to challenge the opposition. Consequently, the first half ended in a dull stalemate, with only one shot on target between the two teams.
Second Half: Venezuela Takes Control
Venezuela’s dominance continued after the interval and quickly translated into goals. Four minutes into the second half, Eduard Bello headed home a Jon Aramburu cross to break the deadlock. Just eleven minutes later, Salomón Rondón doubled the lead, finishing a one-on-one opportunity against White following a clever assist from Yangel Herrera. This effectively quashed any hopes of a Jamaican comeback.
Venezuela maintained their pressure, seeking a third goal. Substitute Eric Ramírez delivered in the final stages, sealing a comfortable 3-0 victory against a Jamaican side that offered little resistance in the last 20 minutes.
Historic Achievement and Future Prospects
This victory marks a historic achievement for La Vinotinto, as it is the first time Venezuela has won all three games in a Copa América group stage. They now prepare to face Canada in the quarterfinals at AT&T Stadium on Friday. Meanwhile, Jamaica ends their campaign without any points, facing significant questions about their ability to compete with CONMEBOL teams in future tournaments.