James Rodríguez scored 1-0 for Colombia against Venezuela after controversial actions with VAR participation

The Colombian national team has been facing the Venezuelan team in a duel played in Puerto Ordaz valid for the 18th date of the South American Qualifiers. The only result that suits visitors is victory, something that, for the moment, they are achieving. James Rodríguez scored 1-0 on the penalty line but after a controversial play in which there was even VAR participation.

This action started after 42 minutes. The 'coffee' cast was about to execute an attacking play and had possession of the ball in three quarters of the opponent's court. It was so that after a cross from Wilmar Barrios, defender Ronald Hernández cleared but with foul included Luis Fernando Díaz inside the area. At one point this action was not claimed, but the referee Wilton Sampaio stopped the match. The Liverpool winger from England did not stop showing signs of ailment, until the judge kept in analysis with the managers of the VAR, who after several minutes finally told Sampaio to collect penalty.

The decision was favorable to the Colombians, provoking the angry demand of the Venezuelans, who did not believe that this action was a foul. James Rodriguez executed the pitch, but his shot was stopped by Wuilker Faríñez. However, the unusual happened. Wilton saw that the goalkeeper of the 'Vinotinto' came forward and decided that the shot would be repeated. Something that ended up happening. The former Real Madrid midfielder ran again and this time he did not fail.

PREVIA

The teams of Colombia and Venezuela will meet this Tuesday, March 29 at the Cachamay Stadium in a duel valid for the 18th and the last of the South American Qualifiers. Undoubtedly, two momentous events will mark this duel, whose referee will be the Brazilian Wilton Sampaio. The first is the fight for the repechage that the 'coffee growers' have before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the second has to do with the morbidity of the reunion between the coach of the 'Vinotinto', José Néstor Pékerman, who was dismissed by the Colombians to put Reinaldo Rueda in his place in the middle of the process qualifier.

The away team is in sixth position with 20 points, so they need the victory to aspire to the quota of the repechage. It won't be easy, since it doesn't depend on itself. And it is that he has the Peruvian national team ahead with 21 points and with great chances of winning against a Paraguay eliminated in local condition. In addition, the other rival in competition, Chile (seventh with 19 points), will receive a qualified Uruguay. For this reason, the coffee growers must focus on winning their match and waiting for Chileans and Peruvians to lose their matches.

In the case of the 'Vinotinto', they are positioned in the last square with just 10 points. His presence in this match will be almost testimonial, but there is one factor that motivates his players: the presence of José Néstor Pékerman at the helm of the team. The experienced coach took over the reins of the squad in December 2021 with a view to a long-term project, so all footballers have the goal of filling his eyes to be considered in the calls, taking into account the scrolls of the Argentine.

Now, as for the casualties, the 'llanero' cast will not be Jhon Chancellor or Roberto Rosales. Both are suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards. Although there will be the dangerous strikers Josef Martínez and Salomón Rondón.

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