Venezuela Beats Colombia in World Cup Qualifying Match

Venezuela defeated Colombia yesterday in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. The game was played in Cachamay Stadium in Puerto Ordaz, located the eastern state of Bolivar.

Colombia was one player short at the end of the game, due to a yellow card. The Venezuelan team took advantage of their extra man to win the game 2 – 0.

Substitute striker Nicolas Fedor, seen at left, was the first to score. Left-footed midfielder Juan Arango delivered the second goal on a free kick late in the game. Venezuela is currently in 8th place, just behind Colombia.

The vinotinto is keeping the dream alive! Stay tuned as they play Bolivia in June. Read a New York Times article about yesterday’s game.

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Venezuela Defeats United States in Miami

Venezuela again defeated the US this week in the final game of the second round of the World Baseball Classic. The US made several errors and had some injured players as well. Though the Venezuelans seem to be holding up better, both teams advanced to the finals.

During the rainy game, Venezuela pulled ahead early on, scoring six runs in the second inning.  Despite being delayed 70 minutes and playing in less than favorable conditions, la patria querida emerged victorious once again!

Keep watching for the final round, which begins on Saturday, March 21st.

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Venezuela Defeats US in World Baseball Classic

This year’s World Baseball Classic has been very exciting. Venezuela was back on top of its game yesterday, defeating the U.S. 5-3 to win pool C after losing to the U.S. 15-6 in a previous game. Their roster includes MLB stars like Bobby Abreu, Endy Chavez, and Francisco Rodriguez.

Venezuela moves on Saturday to play the Netherlands, which has been a proven to be a wild card this season, twice defeating the powerhouse Dominican team.

Keep watching, and keep your fingers crossed for the patria querida!

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Venezuela’s Santana Ready to Get in the Game

Johan Santana, the star pitcher for the Mets who hails from Venezuela, says that despite elbow problems he will be ready for Spring training on Thursday and wants to pitch opening day on April 6th.

“Right now, I feel pretty good, and I felt like I could get in a game,” he told the New York Daily News. This is despite the fact that he did not pitch in the recent World Baseball Classic, disappointing Venezuelans.

Santana told Newsday: “I haven’t skipped anything. Just staying with the plan. Hopefully whenever it’s the time, the right time, to get on the field, we’ll do it. We’ll get on the mound. But as of right now, there’s no reason to have that competition mind-set. It’s just about getting ready for Opening Day.”

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Venezuelan Tigers Dominate in Caribbean World Series

The Caribbean World Series has been unfolding this week in Mexicali, Mexico. Venezuela’s Tigres de Aragua have remained undefeated, and could take the title if they beat Mexico tonight.

Yesterday, they defeated last year’s champions, the Dominican Republic’s Tigres de Licey. Venezuela used five different pitchers during the game, beating the opposing Tigres 3-2. For details, see the AP coverage.

Venezuela is a perennial powerhouse in professional baseball. The country’s Leones de Caracas won the Caribbean World Series in 2006.

UPDATE: They did it! The Tigres won the Caribbean Series again!

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Venezuela Hosts Soccer Tournament, Defeats Peru 3 to 1

Hey soccer fans! On Sunday, Venezuela’s national team, the “vino tinto” emerged victorious against Peru after a hard-fought game. SoccerNews.com reports: “Venezuela too Strong for Peru.”

The FIFA Under-20 South America Cup is currently underway in Venezuela, and after Sunday’s win, the country is on course for a spot in the final game.

This is the fourth time Venezuela has hosted the regional sporting event, where rising stars of soccer showcase their talent.

The games will be held in three stadiums in the cities of Puerto Ordaz, Maturin and Puerto La Cruz which also hosted the 2007 Copa America (Americas Cup). The U-20 Cup will run for 35 games.

See more info in English and in Spanish

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Venezuela’s Guillen: Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Ozzie Guillen is tired of the sour tone of U.S.-Venezuela relations in recent years.

Speaking from his home in Caracas, the Chicago White Sox manager weighed in on the financial crisis and the effect it may have on baseball. He said that “teams will have to look for alternatives, work with lower salaries.”

Guillen also expressed hope that President-elect Obama and Venezuela’s Chavez will strengthen relations. The AP reports that he added, “I’m not asking them to be great friends, but at least that they shake hands.”

After all, trade between the U.S. and Venezuela rose by about 50 percent in 2008.

Hopefully Santa Claus was listening.

Guillen is in Caracas to give Christmas gifts to children with cancer through his Oswaldo Guillen Foundation. Next year, he hopes to do the same thing in Chicago.

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Our Newest Favorite Venezuelan Baseball Star: K-Rod

Another superstar pitcher from Venezuela was signed by the New York Mets last week.

Francisco Rodriguez (or “K-Rod”) grew up outside of Caracas, where he first set foot on a baseball diamond at his grandmother’s insistence at age seven. She simply wanted to get him out of the house.

Now he has gone on to become one of the most promising names in Major League Baseball. At 20, he helped the Angels win the World Series, becoming the youngest member of any team to win the title. This year, at 26, he set a record for the greatest number of saves in one season.

The Mets signed K-Rod for three years at a rumored $37 million. Find out more in an in-depth feature article from the New York Daily News.

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Venezuela’s “Vino Tinto” Defeat Ecuador in Soccer

Venezuelans are not known for soccer, but that’s fine — they’re succeeding at it anyway.

The national team, nicknamed “el vino tinto” for the red-wine color of their uniforms, beat out Ecuador 3-1 yesterday to remain in the World Cup qualifiers. All three goals were scored in the second half, signaling a major comeback after four straight losses. Above, Alejandro Moreno and Gabriel Cichero celebrate their win.

Last Friday, “el vino tinto” lost to Brazil, a powerhouse team that Venezuela has managed to defeat only once. This time, Brazil earned an easy 4-0 victory, but still complained! Coach Dunga said his players were kept awake at night by loud partying while they were in Venezuela. “When we play away from home in the World Cup qualifiers, the whole country unites to try and make things as difficult as possible for Brazil,” he said.

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Venezuelan Sluggers Hit Home New Records

Venezuela has always been one of the best-represented countries in the U.S. Major Leagues. This year, Venezuela stood out for sending even more professional baseball players into MLB at a time when the number of foreign-born players declined overall. Now, the Venezuelans are breaking records.

Making headlines this week for their never-before-seen feats were Francisco Rodriguez (“The Kid,” or “K-Rod”) of the L.A. Angels and Carlos Zambrano (“El Toro,” above) of the Chicago Cubs.

Last Saturday, Rodriguez stunned fans by saving a record number of 58 games for his team to defeat the old record set by Bobby Thigpen nearly two decades ago. Then, on Sunday, Carlos Zambrano pitched a lockout game in which the other side achieved no hits or runs.  Watch a video montage of Zambrano’s “no run no hit” game set to triumphant rock music from the Caracas newspaper, El Universal.

Read more about Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Zambrano, go to MLB.com. For articles in Spanish, click here and here.

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After the Olympics, Venezuela to Invest More in Sports

With the Beijing Olympics now behind them, Venezuela’s top athletes are being honored back home. Above, President Chavez is shown with the women’s national softball team.

One thing they have to look forward to is the creation of a sports office by the state-owned oil company, PDVSA. This latest social program — others include funds for health, education, and other essential areas — promises to increase the support that athletes are given in Venezuela.

Despite strong showings in volleyball, softball, and taekwondo (a bronze!), Venezuela’s delegation of 100 athletes in Beijing offered just a glimpse of what the country can accomplish.

Check out the full story from AP and Reuters.

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Venezuela Takes the Bronze

Today, Venezuela scored its first medal at the Summer Olympic Games in China.  Dalia Contreras proudly won a bronze medal in Taekwondo against Kenya’s Mildred Alango with a score of 1-0.  

The match was broadcast by Venezuela’s first public broadcasting station, Televisora Venezolana Social (Tves).

Tomorrow, Venezuela competes in the men’s semifinal Kayak Double.

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