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Played
July 9, 2011 5:30 PM EDT
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena — Ciudad de Salta, Provincia de Salta
Referee: W. Quesada
July 9, 2011 5:30 PM EDT
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena — Ciudad de Salta, Provincia de Salta
Referee: W. Quesada
Top of the Match
César Eduardo González
Venezuela
Venezuela
César Eduardo González
Venezuela
Venezuela
Flop of the Match
Segundo Alejandro Castillo
Ecuador
Ecuador
Felipe Caicedo
Ecuador
Ecuador
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Venezuela 1-0 Ecuador: A wonder goal from Cesar Gonzalez sends La Vinotinto to the cusp of the quarterfinals
Ecuador have it all to do against Brazil in their final match of the group as Venezuela sit on the summit of Group B with four points.
By Patrick Devaney
GettyImages
A wonder strike from Cesar Gonzalez sealed a memorable win for Venezuela as it sneaked a 1-0 victory past Ecuador to leave itself on the cusp of qualifying for the 2011 Copa America quarterfinals.
The tentative fashion in which the match began was soon broken by Venezuela left back Gabriel Cichero. His blistering effort from 25 yards was feebly parried by Ecuador’s goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga but Miku could not successfully convert the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
Ecuador’s shaky start was soon forgotten thanks to some dazzling interchanges by Reinaldo Rueda’s men. A series of flicks and snappy passes set up Christian Benitez in a central position but he managed to shoot off target.
As the tempo of the game dropped to a near pedestrian pace, Venezuela center back Oswaldo Vizcarrondo should have headed in the opener but despite Elizaga being nowhere near the effort, it still sailed harmlessly above the crossbar.
A spell of concerted pressure towards the end of the first half failed to threaten Ecuador’s goal significantly enough for it to be breached. As both sides trudged in at the half-time interval, they knew they could up their effort as a place at the top of Group B above Brazil and Paraguay beckoned for the winner.
After the break, the teams played with more urgency. Just on the hour mark, Venezuela’s Miku saw his cheeky back heel effort saved. However the game only had to wait another two minutes to be rewarded with a goal. Cesar Gonzalez unleashed a fiercely struck effort that swerved into the bottom corner to give his side a 1-0 lead after 62 minutes of play.
Shortly afterwards Arango’s slaloming run looked like it would culminate in a fine solo goal but Miku inexplicably blocked his man as he shaped to have a shot and double Venezuela's lead.
Felipe Caicedo conjured up a wonderful opportunity to equalize for Ecuador but, with the goal at his mercy, he placed the ball straight at a relieved Vega in the Venezuelan goal.
With just 10 minutes remaining, Ecuador huffed and puffed but Cesar Farias' relentless defense refused to wilt as disjointed attacks from Caicedo and Benitez proved fruitless.
Venezuela held out resolutely for the victory and now sit on top of Group B with four points, with only its next opponents Paraguay standing in their way to book a place in the quarterfinal of the competition.
Meanwhile Ecuador is left with a mountain to climb as it takes on Brazil next and only a win will resurrect any chance of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.
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The tentative fashion in which the match began was soon broken by Venezuela left back Gabriel Cichero. His blistering effort from 25 yards was feebly parried by Ecuador’s goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga but Miku could not successfully convert the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
Ecuador’s shaky start was soon forgotten thanks to some dazzling interchanges by Reinaldo Rueda’s men. A series of flicks and snappy passes set up Christian Benitez in a central position but he managed to shoot off target.
As the tempo of the game dropped to a near pedestrian pace, Venezuela center back Oswaldo Vizcarrondo should have headed in the opener but despite Elizaga being nowhere near the effort, it still sailed harmlessly above the crossbar.
A spell of concerted pressure towards the end of the first half failed to threaten Ecuador’s goal significantly enough for it to be breached. As both sides trudged in at the half-time interval, they knew they could up their effort as a place at the top of Group B above Brazil and Paraguay beckoned for the winner.
After the break, the teams played with more urgency. Just on the hour mark, Venezuela’s Miku saw his cheeky back heel effort saved. However the game only had to wait another two minutes to be rewarded with a goal. Cesar Gonzalez unleashed a fiercely struck effort that swerved into the bottom corner to give his side a 1-0 lead after 62 minutes of play.
Shortly afterwards Arango’s slaloming run looked like it would culminate in a fine solo goal but Miku inexplicably blocked his man as he shaped to have a shot and double Venezuela's lead.
Felipe Caicedo conjured up a wonderful opportunity to equalize for Ecuador but, with the goal at his mercy, he placed the ball straight at a relieved Vega in the Venezuelan goal.
With just 10 minutes remaining, Ecuador huffed and puffed but Cesar Farias' relentless defense refused to wilt as disjointed attacks from Caicedo and Benitez proved fruitless.
Venezuela held out resolutely for the victory and now sit on top of Group B with four points, with only its next opponents Paraguay standing in their way to book a place in the quarterfinal of the competition.
Meanwhile Ecuador is left with a mountain to climb as it takes on Brazil next and only a win will resurrect any chance of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.
Follow Goal.com on
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match- Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
José Paolo Guerrero
Striker Peru |
5 | 0 |
|
Luis Suárez
Striker Uruguay |
4 | 0 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Argentina |
3 | 0 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Colombia |
2 | 1 |
|
Diego Forlan Corazo
Striker Uruguay |
2 | 0 |