Deportivo Lara and Trujillanos shared the spoils in a 1:1 draw at the Venezuelan Cup Round 1 Group D fixture on Wednesday night. The hosts opened the scoring early, but the visitors fought back to claim a first point of the campaign. It was a result that mirrored the stalemate between these sides back in August.
And here's the thing about that opening goal — D. Linarez struck just six minutes in, catching Trujillanos still settling into their shape. The Deportivo attack pressed forward with confidence, their high line inviting pressure. By then, the visitors looked unsure of themselves.
N. Verenzuela turned the match on its head with two goals. First, he pulled one back on the half-hour mark, giving his side something to believe in. Then, sixty-six minutes in, he doubled his tally to complete the turnaround. To be fair, he was the difference — a striker who knows when to be there.
The twenty-minute mark proved telling. Trujillanos had been content to absorb pressure, but once Verenzuela found the net, everything shifted. Deportivo came at them harder, searching for an equaliser, but the visitors' organisation held firm. The away end never stopped, and neither did their players.
Statistics told a story of two teams going at each other. Deportivo had 53 per cent possession and 107 attacks, while Trujillanos managed 120 with less control. Shots accuracy sat at 60 per cent for the hosts against 50 per cent for the visitors — and neither side could find the decisive third goal.
The draw leaves Deportivo Lara fourth on one point from three games, while Trujillanos move to three points in third place. We had backed the visitors to win at 58 per cent confidence, but the match went another way — and it was that second Verenzuela goal that broke the forecast. There is no value left at that number now.
