Venezuela’s first game of 2025 ended in disappointment, losing 3-1 to the United States at Chase Stadium. The home team offered a moment of joy to their supporters, marking the start of the Mauricio Pochettino era in the best possible way.
Since it was an international friendly match outside of FIFA dates, clubs were not required to release their players. Consequently, both coaches had to deal with surprising lineups, including players who had never previously represented their team.
This situation limited the ability of the technical staff to field their star players during this friendly match, preferring to send a less experienced team onto the field. It is important to note that due to the exhibitionist nature of this match, the evaluation of the team’s overall performance becomes complex, and that of the national team was rather poor, with several defensive errors to highlight.
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-Still, several players’ individual performances shined, suggesting they could play key roles in Vinotinto’s future. Notable names included Wuilker Faríñez, Juanpi Añor, Jorge Yriarte, Gleiker Mendoza, Bryant Ortega and Carlos Vivas.
Faríñez’s injuries had previously cost him numerous opportunities with the national team, leading to a loss of consistency and an undisputed place in the starting XI. However, on his return he put in an impressive performance, recalling his best level with the Vinotinto.
Within three minutes, he saved a penalty, sending Venezuelan fans into a frenzy in the stadium, and then made several crucial saves that prevented Venezuela from suffering a more severe defeat.
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