This Uruguay of Marcelo Bielsa added another 0-0, this time against Venezuela visit to Maturín. The result could have been worse, but goalkeeper Sergio Rochet kept Vinotinto from winning. For Charrúas, this is the fourth of the last five games played that remain in dry dock. Against Brazil and Colombia in the Copa América, and now, with Paraguay and Venezuela in the continuation of the South American Qualifiers.
It rained heavily for 90 minutes in Maturín, in front of a Stadium full of more than 50 thousand fans who came hoping for victory. The celestial is without, among others, Darwin Nuñez, Ronald Araújo, Fede Valverde, Josema Giménez, Mathías Olivera, Matías Viña, Nico de la Cruz, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Naithan Nández. Too many absences. Impossible to hide.
To make matters worse, the only center back with relative experience in light blue, Sebastián Cáceres, was injured within a minute. Venezuela played from less to more, with Salomón Rondón’s power on offense and Jefferson Soteldo’s zig-zag and efficient walking in the middle.
Rondón hit the post with a header in the first half. Rochet stopped three one-on-ones the rest of the match. Venezuela is more. Uruguay was frustrated by its offensive chaos, uncertain in the last quarter of the field, in the moment of truth when stepping into the area. Neither Pellistri, who had a good start but a worse finish, nor Quique Olivera or an erratic Maxi Araújo, posed any danger. All that was left of the score was a foul on incoming Facu Torres in the complement that opened the door for a free kick in the crescent by Lucas Olaza. Incorrectly finished, it hit the bar.
In the end, Bielsa kept his goal scoreless, not opening the score to the opponent. Nicolás Fonseca and full-back Marcelo Saracchi came on for the last five minutes.
Venezuela left with disappointment at not achieving victory. But it is still in the match, in the middle of the table, in South America where six out of ten qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, and the seventh will have a chance for the playoffs. And as before in its history, Vinotinto has the opportunity to be part of the biggest event in the world of football.
TECHNICAL SHEET
0 – Venezuela: Rafa Romo; Nahuel Ferraresi, Jon Aramburu, Yordan Osorio, Miguel Navarro; Cristian Cásseres (m.82, Tomás Rincón), José Andrés Martínez, Telasco Segovia (m.59, Jefferson Savarino), Yeferson Soteldo; Eduard Bello (m.59, Darwin Machís), Salomón Rondón (m.91, Jhonder Cádiz).
Coach: Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista
0 – Uruguay: Sergio Rochet; Guillermo Varela, Santiago Bueno, Sebastián Cáceres (m.5, Nico Marichal), Lucas Olaza; Manuel Ugarte, Emiliano Martínez, Brian Rodríguez (m.54, Facundo Torres; m.87, Marcelo Saracchi), Maximiliano Araújo (m.45, Miguel Merentiel), Facundo Pellistri (m.87, Nicolás Fonseca); Christian Oliveria.
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa.
Referee: Brazilian Raphael Claus advises Cristian Cásseres, Miguel Navarro and José Martínez, from Venezuela; and Manuel Ugarte, Brian Rodríguez, Miguel Merentiel and Emiliano Martínez, from Uruguay.
Incidents: The match on the eighth day of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, played at the Monumental Stadium in Maturín.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
