Latest news with #HectorCuellar
Observer
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Observer
Venezuela boost qualification hopes as Colombia falter
MONTEVIDEO: Venezuela boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in their history, beating Bolivia 2-0 on Friday, while faltering rivals Colombia were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Peru. A calamitous fifth-minute own goal from Hector Cuellar and a 30th-minute strike from veteran forward Salomon Rondon ensured the three points for the Vinotinto in Maturin. The victory, which came after a frustrating night for Colombia, left Venezuela in seventh place on 18 points — three points behind Colombia and Uruguay. Venezuela travel to Uruguay on Tuesday knowing a win would put them in real contention for a top six spot and an automatic place in next year's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The final two games for Uruguay come in September when they are away to already qualified Argentina before a potentially crucial last match at home to Colombia on September 6. The top six teams in South America qualify directly for the World Cup with the seventh placed country entering the inter-confederation playoffs. Bolivia gifted the home side the lead when Cuellar played a gentle back pass towards his goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra who somehow failed to control the ball which passed through his legs and into the net. The much-travelled Rondon, Venezuela's all-time top scorer, doubled the lead on the half hour when he brought down a cross from the right and under pressure buried the ball in the corner with his left foot. Jon Aramburu should have made it 3-0 in the 68th minute when he was set up by Rondon but side-footed wide. Eighth-placed Bolivia, who now fall four points behind Venezuela, went close to pulling a goal back in the 75th minute when Lucas Chavez's effort grazed the outside of the post. Colombia, runners-up in the Copa America last year, are making life difficult for themselves after being held by second to last Peru in Barranquilla, extending their winless run in the CONMEBOL qualifiers to five games. Missing the suspended Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, Colombia lacked creativity in attack against a resilient Peru back line and they were booed off the field at the final whistle. "Two fundamental things were missing to win the game, which was the final third and precision. And I think Peru defended very well. They made it difficult for us in that sense," said Colombia's Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo. Colombia face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Argentina, who are on 34 points, are assured of top spot in the group while Ecuador and Paraguay are on 24 points ahead of Brazil on 22. Just six points separate second-placed Ecuador from seventh-placed Venezuela with three rounds of games remaining. — AFP
Canada Standard
a day ago
- Sport
- Canada Standard
Rondon lifts Venezuela's World Cup hopes
Xinhua 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.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Venezuela edge closer to historic World Cup berth with 2-0 win over Bolivia
MONTEVIDEO, June 7 — Venezuela boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in their history, beating Bolivia 2-0 yesterday, while faltering rivals Colombia were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Peru. A calamitous fifth-minute own goal from Hector Cuellar and a 30th-minute strike from veteran forward Salomon Rondon ensured the three points for the Vinotinto in Maturin. The victory, which came after a frustrating night for Colombia, left Venezuela in seventh place on 18 points - three points behind Colombia and Uruguay. Venezuela travel to Uruguay on Tuesday knowing a win would put them in real contention for a top six spot and an automatic place in next year's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The final two games for Uruguay come in September when they are away to already qualified Argentina before a potentially crucial last match at home to Colombia on September 6. The top six teams in South America qualify directly for the World Cup with the seventh placed country entering the inter-confederation playoffs. Bolivia gifted the home side the lead when Cuellar played a gentle back pass towards his goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra who somehow failed to control the ball which passed through his legs and into the net. The much-travelled Rondon, Venezuela's all-time top scorer, doubled the lead on the half hour when he brought down a cross from the right and under pressure buried the ball in the corner with his left foot. Jon Aramburu should have made it 3-0 in the 68th minute when he was set up by Rondon but side-footed wide. Eighth-placed Bolivia, who now fall four points behind Venezuela, went close to pulling a goal back in the 75th minute when Lucas Chavez's effort grazed the outside of the post. Colombia, runners-up in the Copa America last year, are making life difficult for themselves after being held by second to last Peru in Barranquilla, extending their winless run in the CONMEBOL qualifiers to five games. Missing the suspended Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, Colombia lacked creativity in attack against a resilient Peru back line and they were booed off the field at the final whistle. 'Two fundamental things were missing to win the game, which was the final third and precision. And I think Peru defended very well. They made it difficult for us in that sense,' said Colombia's Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo. Colombia face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Argentina, who are on 34 points, are assured of top spot in the group while Ecuador and Paraguay are on 24 points ahead of Brazil on 22. Just six points separate second-placed Ecuador from seventh-placed Venezuela with three rounds of games remaining. — AFP
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Venezuela defeats Bolivia 2-0 to approach World Cup intercontinental playoff spot
Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela beat Bolivia 2-0 on Friday to extend its advantage in seventh place in South American World Cup qualifying and a potential spot in an intercontinental playoff for next year's tournament in North America. Bolivian Hector Cuellar scored an own goal in the fifth minute after a simple pass to goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra ended in the back of the net. The hosts added a second in the 30th minute with striker Salomon Rondon, Venezuela's all-time top goal scorer with 47 goals, after he chested down a cross from Nahuel Ferraresi and scored with his left foot. Bolivia, which now trails Venezuela by four points with only three rounds to play, never threatened goalkeeper Rafael Romo at the Monumental Stadium in the eastern city of Maturin, Venezuela. Also on Friday, Colombia drew Peru 0-0 at home and failed to overtake Brazil in the standings. It was Colombia's fifth consecutive match without a win. The hosts at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla missed suspended striker Luis Diaz, who scored six goals in World Cup qualifying. Jhon Córdoba and Rafael Santos Borre were also out due to injury. World Cup champion Argentina, which secured its 2026 berth in March, leads South American qualifying after 15 matches with 34 points. Ecuador and Paraguay are next with 24 points, but the Ecuadorians have better goal difference. Brazil is in fourth place with 22 points. Uruguay and Colombia, both with 21 points, are in fifth and sixth, respectively, separated by goal difference. Venezuela, the only South American team to have never competed in a World Cup, has 18 points. Bolivia, which still has a chance of moving into seventh place, has 14. Peru and Chile have 11 and 10 points respectively. Several teams could secure their World Cup spots in Tuesday's next set of matches. Ecuador will clinch its spot with a win at Peru and Brazil could also secure its berth with a win, provided Venezuela doesn't add points at Uruguay. Colombia will have to beat Lionel Messi's Argentina in Buenos Aires to come close to its spot before the two final rounds in September. Bolivia will have to overcome Chile at home to keep its chances alive. All 10 South American nations play each other home and away. The top six countries qualify directly to the finals next year in North America. The seventh-place South American team will go into the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026 in North America when six teams will vie for the remaining two spots in the main tournament. ___ AP soccer:
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Venezuela boost qualification hopes as Colombia falter
A calamitous fifth-minute own goal from Hector Cuellar and a 30th-minute strike from veteran forward Salomon Rondon ensured the three points for the Vinotinto in Maturin. The victory, which came after a frustrating night for Colombia, left Venezuela in seventh place on 18 points - three points behind Colombia and Uruguay. Venezuela travel to Uruguay on Tuesday knowing a win would put them in real contention for a top six spot and an automatic place in next year's tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The final two games for Uruguay come in September when they are away to already qualified Argentina before a potentially crucial last match at home to Colombia on September 6. The top six teams in South America qualify directly for the World Cup with the seventh placed country entering the inter-confederation playoffs. Bolivia gifted the home side the lead when Cuellar played a gentle back pass towards his goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra who somehow failed to control the ball which passed through his legs and into the net. The much-travelled Rondon, Venezuela's all-time top scorer, doubled the lead on the half hour when he brought down a cross from the right and under pressure buried the ball in the corner with his left foot. Jon Aramburu should have made it 3-0 in the 68th minute when he was set up by Rondon but side-footed wide. Eighth-placed Bolivia, who now fall four points behind Venezuela, went close to pulling a goal back in the 75th minute when Lucas Chavez's effort grazed the outside of the post. Colombia, runners-up in the Copa America last year, are making life difficult for themselves after being held by second to last Peru in Barranquilla, extending their winless run in the CONMEBOL qualifiers to five games. Missing the suspended Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, Colombia lacked creativity in attack against a resilient Peru back line and they were booed off the field at the final whistle. "Two fundamental things were missing to win the game, which was the final third and precision. And I think Peru defended very well. They made it difficult for us in that sense," said Colombia's Argentine coach Nestor Lorenzo. Colombia face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Argentina, who are on 34 points, are assured of top spot in the group while Ecuador and Paraguay are on 24 points ahead of Brazil on 22. Just six points separate second-placed Ecuador from seventh-placed Venezuela with three rounds of games remaining.
