Venezuela U23 claimed a 3-2 victory over the Dominican Republic U23 in Group Stage 2 of the Central American and Caribbean Games on Sunday. The result leaves both sides level on points after two matches in the tournament, though Venezuela's superior goal difference gives them the edge in the standings. The Dominican hosts had shown resilience in their opening fixture with a 1-1 draw against Mexico U23, while Venezuela carried confidence from their 3-1 win over Guatemala U23.
The visitors took an early lead through a composed finish, but the Dominican Republic responded with determination to find their way back into the contest. It was a match that swung between phases, with neither side able to establish clear control for long periods. By then, the crowd had grown increasingly vocal as the tension built with each attacking move.
The Dominican side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and their persistence paid off when they levelled the scores. What followed was a game of end-to-end action, with both teams creating chances but unable to break through the opposition's resistance. The visitors looked dangerous on the break and capitalised when their opportunity came.
Venezuela's away form has been inconsistent in recent encounters, with defeats to Mexico U23 and Paraguay U23 in February 2024. Yet against the Dominican Republic, they showed the composure to see out a difficult match. The home side had won their previous meeting against Guatemala U23 but had also suffered losses to Las Vegas Lights and Spain U23 in earlier fixtures.
Both teams now turn their attention to the final group stage encounter, with the result keeping the qualification picture wide open. The Dominican Republic will need to improve on their defensive vulnerabilities if they are to progress, while Venezuela must maintain their momentum from this hard-fought win.