Venezuela |
1 - 0
This match has ended. Upcoming related matches:
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Argentina |
Venezuela vs Argentina Live Streams and TV Channels
| Country | Channels |
|---|---|
| United States | DirecTV, Dish Network |
| Other Countries | |
| Andorra | Esport3 |
| Australia | Setanta Sports Australia |
| Portugal | Sport TV2 |
| Spain | Esport3 |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | |
Venezuela vs Argentina Delayed and Repeat Broadcasts
| Country | Date/Time (US/Eastern) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Wed, Oct 12 6:45am | Setanta Sports Australia |
| Wed, Oct 12 18:15pm | Setanta Sports Australia | |
| Portugal | Wed, Oct 12 11:00am | Sport TV1 |
| Wed, Oct 12 12:00pm | Sport TV1 | |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | ||
Venezuela vs Argentina Match Preview
Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi will hope to continue to fire on all cylinders when Argentina meet Venezuela in Puerto La Cruz on Tuesday.
Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick against Chile
After thrashing Chile 4-1 in the inaugural phase of the qualifiers in Buenos Aires on Friday, courtesy of a Gonzalo Higuain hat-trick and another goal from Lionel Messi, Argentina will try to continue with their good run against Venezuela, who come from a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador in Quito.
Incidentally, before Argentina's win over Chile last week the last time that Messi had scored an official goal for his country was in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in March of 2009, with Argentina winning the game 2-0 in Maracaibo.
Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella, who debuted with a victory for Los Albicelestes last September against Venezuela in Calcutta, can now count with Martin Demichelis and Javier Mascherano, who were injured and suspended, respectively, for Friday's game.
Manchester City ace, Sergio Aguero, was ruled out for both matches after failing to recover from a groin injury. While, his polemic Manchester City team-mate, Carlos Tevez, wasn't even selected in the squad by Sabella.
Meanwhile, Venezuela coach Cesar Farias has already turned the page after the defeat to Ecuador and is solely concentrating on the important clash with Argentina. Unlike for the match with Ecuador, he will select his strongest possible side, and this means a mixture of players who play their club soccer in Europe and Latin America.
Not only will Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Juan Arango return to the squad, but Farias will be able to count with four players who earn their wages in Spain, these being Fernando Amorebieta, Julio Alvarez, Salomon Rondon and Nicolas Fedor, better known as 'Miku'. Other important players are Ronaldo Vargas of Anderlecht and Cesar Gonzalez of River Plate.
Argentina and Venezuela have clashed ten times for the World Cup qualifiers, with Los Albicelestes winning all ten matches, scoring 34 goals and only conceding six from the Venezuelans.
Venezuela vs Argentina Match Report
Argentina were brought back to reality after suffering their first ever defeat to Venezuela.
Venezuela managed to contain Lionel Messi
For Venezuela, it was a historic achievement because it was the first time that they had beaten Argentina in an official match, with the Argentines having won all eighteen encounters between the sides up until now.
The only goal of the match was scored by Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta in the 62nd minute. Venezuela, who are the only country from South America to have never qualified for a World Cup, were well worth their win.
Argentina, who had Martin Demichelis and Javier Mascherano back in their side, struggled early on, as Venezuela took the initiative, creating a couple of decent opportunities to take the lead. But they were kept at bay by Argentina goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, who looked very secure between the posts.
The closest either of the two teams came to getting in front was late in the first half, when Andujar was made to stretch to push out a powerful Juan Arango free-kick.
Arango was Venezuela's main danger man, and once again he had a free-kick well saved by Andujar, but this time in the second half.
Despite playing well below his potential, now and again Messi caused the Venezuela defense some problems. However, when he did reach the Venezuela area he was kept out by the heroics of Renny Vega.
When the match was beginning to lack emotion, Amorebieta connected to an inch-perfect corner from Arango with a fine header that beat Andujar.
From then on, it was one-way traffic, as Venezuela went looking for a second goal that could have easily arrived had they been more accurate with their finishing.
Alejandro Sabella brought on Rodrigo Palacio and Javier Pastore in an attempt to rescue a point, however, both players hardly managed to get into the game.
Argentina had no response what-so-ever, and should be glad that they were not beaten by a greater difference.