Cruel on former Newcastle United star after scoring 45 yards stunner in Copa America | OneFootball

The Copa America tournament is hotting up and like the Euros is now at the quarter-final stage, on Friday night it was the turn of Salomon Rondon and Venezuela.

The former Newcastle United striker and his international teammates were up against Canada for a place in the semi-finals.

Argentina had been the first to go through, drawing 1-1 with Ecuador but winning 4-2 on penalties, despite Lionel Messi failing with his.

The winners of Venezuela v Canada set to face Argentina in the last four.

Played in Arlington (Texas), a 13th minute strike from Shaffelburg put Canada in command.

Venezuela struggling to get back on terms and heading past the hour mark things looking bleak.

Then on 64 minutes, Venezuela break from a corner, the ball played up to the sole attacking player, Salomon Rondon outmuscling the defender and then from around 45 yards out, showed brilliant composure and technique to chip the keeper, who was helpless as he desperately raced back to his goal.

Sadly, the stunning strike proved not enough.

Salomon Rondon still in great shape (will turn 35 in September) and played the full match plus injury time, then scored the first penalty in the shootout, only to then see four of the next eight missed (two for each team), meaning it went into sudden death and Venezuela missed theirs whilst Canada scored to go through.

Gutting for Salomon Rondon and his teammates but great to see the popular former Newcastle United star in good form.

After forced out by Mike Ashley at Newcastle United, along with Rafa Benitez, Salomon Rondon made some poor moves as he joined clubs in China and Russia, then Everton.

However, after a successful season with River Plate in Argentina, the all-time record scorer for Venezuela moved last year to Pachuca in Mexico and is carrying on scoring goals there.

A very competitive Copa America looks like a number of teams can win it, Brazil and Bruno Guimaraes now facing a tough match against Uruguay in the quarter-finals and the possibility of playing Colombia (they face Panama) once again in the semi-finals if both get through. Both of those quarter-finals coming up later today (Brazil match is early hours of Sunday in UK time).

A big blow for Brazil was a very soft dubious booking for Vinicius Jnr, that was his second of the tournament and so he misses this Uruguay quarter-final.

Copa America quarter-finals

Argentina 1 Ecuador 1 (Argentina win 4-2 on penalties)

Venezuela 1 Canada 1 (Canada win 4-2 on penalties)

Colombia v Panama (UK time – Saturday 6 July 11 pm kick-off)

Brazil v Uruguay (UK time – Sunday 7 July 2 am kick-off)

Newcastle United players on Copa America duty:

Monday 24 June 2024

Colombia 2 Paraguay 1 (Copa America Group match)

Miguel Almiron and Paraguay were very unlucky against one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Paraguay went two down by the break due to poorly defended headed goals, then pulled one back in the second half but was unable to get the equaliser they deserved.

The final stats showed that Paraguay had more overall shots (12 v 11), the same number on target (3 v 3) and the same number of corners (3-3). Only when it came to putting the ball in the net, did Colombia edge it.

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Brazil 0 Costa Rica 0 (Copa America Group match)

Chance after chance went by for those playing in front of Bruno Guimaraes, who has a generally more disciplined deeper role to play for his national side. The Newcastle midfielder with a very good personal performance.

Marquinhos saw a goal ruled out via one of those very marginal VAR offside calls, whilst Paqueta saw a rocket of a shot come back off the post.

Costa Rica struggled to even get out of their half and the final stats showed Brazil with 19 v 2 in terms of overall shots and 9 v 1 on corners.

Bruno Guimaraes almost won it himself late on, his effort from just inside the box, clearing the angle of the goal by a very small margin.

Friday 28 June 2024

Paraguay 1 Brazil  4 (Copa America Group match)

Both Newcastle United players performed well but the end result means Paraguay was eliminated and Brazil is all but certain of going through as at least group runners-up.

In their goalless opener, Brazil had 19 shots compared to two for Costa Rica, this time it was 17 for Brazil and 15 for Paraguay. The two teams having had six each on target. Whilst possession was only 55% and 45% in Brazil’s favour.

Brazil’s attacking players had been guilty of not taking their chances but this time four of their six on-target found the back of the net.

Tuesday 2 July 2024

Costa Rica 2 Paraguay 1 (Copa America Group match)

A very disappointing night to finish his Copa America campaign, as Miguel Almiron was one of a couple of Paraguay players subbed at half-time with their side 2-0 down.

A case yet again of not taking their chances, as Costa Rica scored with their only two shots of the game in the opening seven minutes, whilst Paraguay had 17 shots of their own with six of them on target, but just a 55th minute consolation goal.

After a rest, Miguel Almiron will be back at Newcastle United for pre-season training, or if media speculation is true, off to a new club, with the Saudi Pro-League seemingly most likely.

Brazil 1 Colombia 1 (Copa America Group match)

Excellent performance from Bruno Guimaraes in a feisty encounter. Four players booked in the opening 27 minutes and the Newcastle midfielder booked himself late on.

Declared the best game of the tournament so far, both teams really went for it and Raphina scored a class free-kick on 12 minutes, only for a Munoz equaliser just before the break.

Along with Argentina and Colombia, Brazil looking one of the three teams most fancied to win the Copa America, however, a tough quarter-final match ahead for Bruno and his teammates against Uruguay. Made more difficult due to a second booking of the tournament for Vinicius Jnr that rules him out of Friday’s match.