Venezuela made it seven games without a victory in FIFA World Cup Qualifying after losing 2-1 to an Enner Valencia-inspired Ecuador at Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado.
Looking to build on consecutive victories in the qualification phase, the hosts quickly seized control of the game and thought they had an early lead when Pedro Vite’s clever header set up Enner Valencia with an open goal, but he somehow slammed his effort into the side netting.
Salomon Rondon flashed a warning header just wide of the post shortly after, but it was Venezuela’s only real chance of the opening 45 minutes as they found themselves pinned back in their own half. Valencia continued to threaten as he flashed a shot just wide of the post, and it was a case of third time lucky as he finally found his shooting boots just before HT.
With the angle against him, it didn’t look like a clear chance, but he cleverly thundered the ball into the ground and it looped up and over Rafael Romo to send the home fans into delirium.
Fernando Batista tried to respond at HT with a double change, but he immediately saw his side go 2-0 down from the kick off as Valencia punished some slack defending by latching on to a loose ball and a beautiful dinked finish gave Romo no chance. Rondo had another chance to bring the away side back into the game but he was denied by Hernán Galíndez, while Romo redeemed himself by saving a penalty to deny Valencia a hat-trick after the goalkeeper had committed the initial foul.
The visitors were up against it with Ecuador’s defence conceding only four goals in 13 qualifiers this campaign, and despite an injury time goal from Jhonder Cadiz made it interesting, it was too little too late as the hosts hung on for a vital win.
Despite their deduction of three points, Ecuador rise to second place in CONMEBOL qualifying standings and look well-placed to qualify for the World Cup in 2026, while Venezuela may now have to pin their hopes on the playoff spot, sitting just one point behind Colombia in sixth.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Enner Valencia (Ecuador)
