Rondon lifts Venezuela's World Cup hopes
07 Jun 2025, 07:25 GMT+10
MATURIN, Venezuela, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Salomon Rondon scored his 47th international goal as Venezuela kept alive hopes of qualifying for its first FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 home win over Bolivia on Friday.
The hosts were gifted an early lead in the eastern city of Maturin when Hector Cuellar played the ball back to Guillermo Viscarra only for the goalkeeper to misread the bounce as the ball rolled into his net.
Former Everton and Newcastle United striker Rondon, who is Venezuela's all-time top scorer, doubled the lead by capitalizing on chaotic defending to smash a low 12-yard effort into the near corner.
The Vinotinto is seventh in the 10-team South American qualifying group with 18 points, four ahead of eighth-placed Bolivia with three matchdays remaining.
The top six teams will automatically qualify for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada while the seventh-ranked side will enter a playoff.
Earlier on Friday, Colombia was held to a goalless draw in its qualifier against Peru in Barranquilla.
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