Venezuela vs Canada: CONMEBOL Copa America – BBC Sport

Canada are by means of to the Copa America semi-finals after beating Venezuela 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 attract Texas.

Ismael Kone transformed the decisive spot-kick after Wilker Angel’s effort had been saved by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon had earlier scored a surprising 35-yard lob to cancel out Jacob Shaffelburg’s early strike as the perimeters couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes.

Match debutants Canada will now face world champions Argentina in New Jersey on Tuesday in a repeat of the match opener, which holders Argentina received 2-0.

“We’ll face the very best workforce on this planet within the semi-finals. We’re enthusiastic about it,” mentioned Canada coach Jesse Marsch, who was solely appointed in Could.

“We’ll need to play the very best recreation we will play towards Argentina and even then it is probably not sufficient.”

Venezuela coach Fernando Batista says he desires to make use of the frustration to gasoline their bid to qualify for the World Cup.

Venezuela are the one South American workforce by no means to have certified for a World Cup, however at the moment sit fourth in qualifying for the 2026 match in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

“I go away with anger for dropping on penalties, with out dropping a recreation in 90 minutes, however I go away happy with my gamers, who had an amazing Copa America,” mentioned Batista, whose facet received all three group video games.

“The workforce has increasingly character. We now have to chew our cud and concentrate on [World Cup] qualification, which is our most important goal. We’ll preserve going ahead.”