Game of the day - VENEZUELA 2 x 0 PERU

Sunday, 01 July 07, 02:04 AM

That game meant the world for Venezuela, a win would garatee the first place in the group and a lost could mean the elimination and for Peru a 0 X 0 would be suficient to push the decision for the game against Bolivia.
So for the first time in this year's Copa America I watched the MOST BORING first half of (anti) soccer. Maybe the only emotion was to see the refferee show the peruvian Garcia a red card for throwin an elbow on Maldonado's face.
And thank god the first half was over!!!
The second half was another story... all elements of a good soccer game were present: goals, bad calls by the refferee, running, arguments, last minute plays...
At the 3rd minute a perfect corner kick by Venezuela and the balls finds Chichero that puts the ball into the net.
Peru, then decided to show up for the game. The game was open. Venezuela tried to explore the counter attack using the advantage of the extra player.
At the minute 14 the play that decided the game in my opinion: It was the best chance for Peru to tie the game. Guerrero believes in a (almost) lost ball on the right side and crosses to the middle of the box, Pizzaro followed the play and before he could push the ball into the empty goal a venezuelan defender trips him... an obvious penalty denied by the refferee Armando Archundia. 
After that, the refferee started losing control of the game. The peruvian players were getting more and more desesperate while Venezuela tried to pass the ball around.
Peru's desperation was a double-edged sword, and the worst happened. In one of Venezuela's counter attack plays, Arismendi takes a good run eith the ball and scores with a  low diagonal shot from outside the box...
That was it for Peru, the penalty that the refferee decided to give them and a second goal for Venezuela with 15 minutes left on the clock was like a bucket of cold water on the teams morale.
Peru still tried to score their first goal and on the last chance game in a free kick caused by "game retardation" from the venezuelan goalkeeper Vega. But nothing happened and the game was over...
Honestly I still didn't see anything special in any of the teams from group A (I didn't watch Uruguay's game today)
Venezuela as the home team is really trying hard to make it at least to the semifinals but I wouldn't bet on that.
Peru has some young talents but they still have a lot to impriove...
Bolivia should enjoy the trip because they're not getting any farther...
And as I said I still want to watch Uruguay playing before giving my opinion...
Tomorrow I'll glue myself to the TV and I will post about the two games...
Hoping that Brazil X Chile, Mexico X Ecuador can perform the best of their potential...
IN TIME:
 * As I said group A is the weakest one in the competition so it's all up to Uruguay and Venezuela to make their way to the next round on their last games... I don't think surprises will happen on this group...
* A good note is that there hasn't been any 0 x 0 in this Copa America yet...
TOMORROW'S GAMES PREDICTIONS 
--> BRAZIL X CHILE  - Brazil will play a better soccer and will win this one 2 X 1
--> MEXICO X ECUADOR - A though game for Mexico because Ecuador will not give Castillo the same space he had against Brazil but if Mexico can count on Guardado on the field I believe they can beat Ecuador and garantee a place in the next round ... Mexico wins 1 x 0

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Posted by ManoGil | Comments (5)