Los Angeles: Venezuela beat Mexico 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Wednesday, ensuring Jamaica’s exit from the tournament.
Veteran Mexican striker Salomon Rondon scored the only goal from a free kick to make it six points from two games and seal three points for Group B leaders Venezuela.
Mexico, meanwhile, can advance to the knockout stage if they beat Ecuador in the final group game on Sunday.
But the Mexicans will be out of luck after failing to get at least a point from Wednesday’s match with Venezuela at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Orbelin Pineda from Mexico scored in the 87th minute to make it 1-1, the effort was saved by Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo.
Earlier, Rondon had given Venezuela the lead in the 57th minute with a free kick after Mexico’s Julian Quinones had challenged Venezuela’s Jon Aramburu in the area.
Venezuela’s win confirmed Jamaica’s exit from the tournament after losing 3-1 to Ecuador in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Ecuador, beaten by Venezuela in Saturday’s opener, staged a second-half rally by the Reggae Boyz to claim three crucial points at Allegiant Stadium.
The South American looks set to win after taking a 2-0 lead through Casey Palmer’s own goal and a free kick from Chelsea-bound teenager Kendry Paez.
However, early in the second half, Jamaica pulled a goal back from veteran striker Michail Antonio, who then won a penalty appeal 15 minutes before full-time.
However, when Jamaica went ahead to equalize, Ecuador saved the game with a goal from Alan Minda.
Ecuador opened the scoring with an own goal in the 13th minute when Pierre Hincapie’s cross from the left was badly cleared by Palmer and into the Jamaican net.
Ecuador took the lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
Defender Greg Leigh blocked the cross with his upper hand and after a lengthy VAR review, Chile coach Christian Gray was shown his spot.
17-year-old Paez, who will join Premier League giants Chelsea in July 2025 when he turns 18, calmly slotted home from a corner.
After Ecuador failed to clear a corner, Antonio pulled one back for Jamaica early in the second half with a low strike in the 54th minute.
Jamaica thought Ecuador’s Alan Franco had been awarded a 15-minute lifeline after a VAR penalty review appeared to run inside the area.
But despite a monitor being called in to review the incident, referee Gray ruled there was no handball and play was on before Minda’s late goal sealed Ecuador’s victory.
