El Salvador Women came through 2-1 against Venezuela in the Central American and Caribbean Games third-place match on Wednesday. The result ended a run of mixed form for the hosts, who had been building momentum through the tournament. Venezuela will have to settle for bronze after a frustrating afternoon.
Y. Lopez opened the scoring in the twenty-seventh minute. The home side pressed early and earned their reward, but to be fair the visitors were not entirely passive. They survived the opening exchanges and remained within touching distance.
The momentum shifted after the break. V. Sanchez levelled in the sixty-first minute, and the game changed shape. El Salvador had waited for their cue and then went looking for the lead. By then Venezuela's defensive structure looked tired.
P. Villamizar struck the winner in the ninety-minute slot. The match dragged out, but the decisive moment finally arrived when the hosts had hit a wall. El Salvador seized their chance and held on despite the late pressure.
Venezuela dominated possession at 64 per cent but could not create enough clarity. They registered 4 shots on target against 3 for the visitors, yet the conversion rate told a different story. The statistics show a game decided in the final quarter rather than through sustained pressure.
The result means El Salvador finish ahead of their opponents in the standings. They take a point of satisfaction from a tournament where consistency has been elusive. Venezuela close out the competition with a bronze medal, but the performance will not satisfy everyone.