Chile chase the Venezuela 4-2, at the National Stadium of Chile, in Santiago, for the 12th round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. With the result, Chile reaches 9 points, but remains in ninth and penultimate place. Meanwhile, the Venezuelans are in eighth place, with 12 points won.
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➡️With a great goal from Valencia, Ecuador beat Colombia in the Qualifiers
The first half
In 45 minutes of five goals in Santiago, Chile went into the break leading 3-2. Seven minutes later, Eduardo Vargas equalized, after receiving the cross at the second post and finishing low. At 22, Rubén Ramírez hit a beautiful shot from outside the area to put Venezuela back in front. But Chile managed the turnaround, with goals from Rincón, an own goal, at 29, and Cepeda, at 38, with a shot with his left foot from outside the area.
The second half
The second half started the same way: with more goals. Cepeda finished outside the area and Chile scored a fourth in the opening minute. After that, the game deteriorated and scoring opportunities were few and far between. Chile even scored a fifth, but the VAR reviewed the move, and the referee called it offside. the game ended 4-2 for the home team, who are looking for a reaction in the qualifiers.
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Upcoming appointments
Chile returns to the field in March next year, on the 20th, to face Paraguay, away from home, in the 13th round of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The time or location of the game has not yet been defined. On the same date, Venezuela visits Ecuador, also without a defined time and place.
Vargas celebrates the goal he scored in Chile’s win over Venezuela (Photo: Javier Torres/AFP)
✅ TECHNICAL SHEET
CHILE 4 x 2 VENEZUELA
12th Round – SOUTH AMERICAN DAMAGE
📆 Date and time: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 9 pm (Brazilian time);
📍 Local: The National Stadium of Chile, in Santiago (CHI);
🥅 Goals: Savarino (12’/1ºT), Vargas (19’/1ºT), Rubén Ramírez (22’/1ºT), Rincón (GC, 28’/1ºT), Cepeda (37’/1ºT) and (1’/2ºT)
🟨 Yellow cards: Vidal (CHI); Aramburu and Ángel (VEN).
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⚽ Escalations
CHILE (Technical: Ricardo Gareca)
Courteous; Hormazábal (Ferraresi), Maripán, Díaz and Suazo; Vidal (Cabral), Echeverría e Pizarro (Pavez), Cepeda (Guerrero); Aravena and Eduardo Vargas (Mora).
VENEZUELA (Technician: Fernando Batista)
Rafael Romo; Jon Aramburu, Rubén Ramírez, Ángel and Miguel Navarro; Rincón (Murillo), Martínez, Segovia and Jefferson Savarino (Kervin Andrade); Yeferson Soteldo and Salomón Rondón (Eric Ramírez).
What were the key moments that led to Chile’s victory over Venezuela in the World Cup qualifiers?
Title: The Road to 2026: Chile’s Dramatic Win over Venezuela
Interviewer: Good day, and welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with renowned football analyst, Dr. Ana Silva, to dissect the recent nail-biting match where Chile overcame Venezuela 4-2 in the World Cup qualifiers. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Silva!
Dr. Silva: Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time for South American football, and this match was definitely one to remember.
Interviewer: Absolutely! The match had a flurry of goals, especially in the first half. Chile went into the break 3-2 up after being behind. What do you think contributed to their comeback in such a high-stakes game?
Dr. Silva: The first half was a showcase of resilience from Chilean football. After Eduardo Vargas leveled the score for Chile, the team quickly shifted momentum. The own goal from Venezuela’s Ramírez and Cepeda’s long-range strike were crucial. It showed Chile’s ability to capitalize on their opponents’ errors while showcasing their attacking prowess.
Interviewer: You mentioned attacking prowess. The second half started with yet another goal from Cepeda, which extended Chile’s lead to 4-2. How significant is this early second-half goal in terms of game strategy?
Dr. Silva: That early goal in the second half is critical. It gives a team breathing room and shifts the pressure back to the opponents. For Chile, it meant they could control the tempo of the game rather than chase it. They could afford to play a more defensive game afterward, although it did lead to a less exciting finish with fewer opportunities.
Interviewer: Indeed, even after scoring a fifth goal, VAR intervened and ruled it offside. How do you think such decisions impact player morale during a match, particularly during tense qualifiers?
Dr. Silva: VAR reviews can be morale-shattering, especially after you think you’ve scored. It keeps players and fans on edge. While it’s designed to uphold fairness, a player’s momentum can be disrupted significantly. However, it can also serve as a call to focus and tighten defensive strategies to avoid further mistakes.
Interviewer: Chile’s victory puts them at 9 points, still in a tough position. Looking ahead, they are set to face Paraguay in March. What are some key areas they need to improve on to enhance their chances in the upcoming matches?
Dr. Silva: Chile needs to solidify their defense, particularly with the tendency to concede goals as they did with Venezuela. They should also strive for more consistent performances across 90 minutes. Enhancing their midfield control will allow for better ball distribution and create more goal-scoring opportunities.
Interviewer: You mentioned consistency. With qualifying rounds ongoing, how critical do you think team chemistry is in these high-stakes matches?
Dr. Silva: Team chemistry is everything in international football. A cohesive unit can anticipate each other’s movements, which is crucial when the game pace quickens. For Chile, building on this chemistry during training sessions and friendlies can make a world of difference in you building a strong foundation moving forward in the qualifiers.
Interviewer: Excellent insights, Dr. Silva. As we wrap up, what’s your prediction for the next qualifier against Paraguay?
Dr. Silva: I think if Chile can carry the momentum from this win and focus on their defensive strategy, they have a good chance of securing points against Paraguay. However, they must also be wary of Paraguay’s strengths, especially in set pieces.
Interviewer: Thank you for your expert analysis, Dr. Silva, and for joining us today to discuss Chile’s recent triumph. We’ll be watching closely as the qualifiers continue!
Dr. Silva: Thank you! It’s always a pleasure to discuss the beautiful game. Looking forward to the next matches!