Solomon Rondón conquers Jeddah
The 90′ of this exciting match ended with a victory for Batista in his debut as coach of Vinotinto. Saudi Arabia started well in the clash, having and demanding the leading role with very colorful football. However, Batista’s men did not despair, giving up possession to play a more positional football to go against it. When Renard’s team seemed better, Venezuela would manage to give the great surprise. A prodigious counter by Salomón Rondón would serve Josef Martínez’s goal on a silver platter after a measured cross from the millionaire striker so that his compatriot only had to push it. Arabia did not give up after the first blow, going without hesitation for the tie. King Solomon would make an appearance again to score an unstoppable goal for Al Owais. The sensation of the Qatar 2022 World Cup could not face a guerrilla Vinotinto. Josef Martínez had time to extend the advantage and close a double, but the VAR ruled the sentence with an off-side.
The second part would start with the same script as the first, with a Saudi Arabia with a lot of touch to lock up the visitors in their area. Venezuela took a step back in the second act, seeing how little by little Renard’s team tightened the noose around his neck. The end came with Aldawsari’s goal 15 minutes from time, adding fuel to a very lively fire in Jeddah. La Vinotinto suffered too much in the final minutes, wasting the few times they reached Al Owais’ goal, with a very persecuted Rondón and a Torregrossa with wet gunpowder. With a lot of suffering, Venezuela begins a new stage with a victory that tastes like glory.