Copa America 2020 Group C: Argentina Begin Campaign on Winning Note against Venezuela

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Argentina Begin Campaign on Winning Note against Venezuela

June 21, 2020

Argentina 3 Venezuela 1

 

Argentina started as co-hosts of Copa America in the best way possible with a 3-1 win over Venezuela.

 

Argentina had the upper hand against Venezuela early, resulting in a fifteenth-minute goal from Lionel Messi, with a chip shot over the Venezuelan goalkeeper.

 

Argentina continued to look impeccable in attack, moving around the Venezuelan defence with ease. This culminated in Giovani Lo Celso having a ping from the edge of the box.

 

Ángel Di María nearly had a goal as well with his header off a corner cleared off the line. Di Maria then passed to Ángel Correa, whose header hit the woodwork.

 

Venezuela held out for a long time, also putting pressure on the Argentinian defence, though it amounted to nought. Instead, substitute Sergio Agüero finished off a brilliant play where Argentina played keepings off to a Venezuelan defence running around, and the talisman scored Argentina’s second goal.

 

Agüero then set up his fellow substitute, Leandro Paredes, who made it three goals for the hosts.

 

Venezuela clearly missed Salomon Rondón, who was red carded in the final qualification match. Substitute Francisco La Mantia tried for Venezuela, only to miss to the right of goal. Instead, right back Alexander González scored for the Venezuelans, after his first attempt was thwarted by Franco Armani. He was returned the ball, and made sure the shot was low and wide, almost shaving the grass.

 

Still, Argentina earned an ideal win, and will look to bring Lautero Martínez into the starting eleven. Rondón will hope to join Venezuela in the same manner.