An unbeatable weekend of FUTVE action, with surprises, emotions and a new edition of the Derby in Puerto Nuevo.

Matchday 11 started on Friday, with a duel at the bottom of the table between Rayo Zuliano vs Zamora. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that left a bitter taste in both sides.

On Saturday, the team sat at the bottom of the FUTVE League, Universidad Central, pulled off the surprise of the day. They picked up a 3-2 win over Estudiantes de Mérida. Although this result does not lift Edson Rodriguez’s side off the bottom of the table, it does give them hope of avoiding relegation to FUTVE League 2.

Estudiantes de Mérida finished with one player down due to the sending off of German Contreras. With this defeat, they extend their negative run to three consecutive games lost: two in the FUTVE league and one in the Copa Sudamericana.

On the other hand, the bad news continues at Mineros. After the dismissal of Antonio Franco as coach of the team last week, they lost 1-0 to Carabobo on Saturday and equalled Universidad Central’s points tally, thus sharing the last place in the table. The Guayana side finished the game a player down after Maiker Rivas was sent off for a double yellow card.

Carabobo continue to fight for the Copa Sudamericana places.

Closing Saturday’s matches, Portuguesa showed that they are still in good form and extended their winning streak to three games in a row with a 2-0 win over Hermanos Colmenarez. After a goal was disallowed by VAR to Rubén Rojas just a couple of minutes into the game, the Acarigua side managed to pull the game back and seal the win before the end of the first half, with two goals in 10 minutes.

Latest chapter of the Clásico Moderno delivers new drama

Sunday arrived and with it the big match of the weekend.

The Venezuelan Clásico had a new edition. Almost 17,500 Deportivo Táchira fans attended the Pueblo Nuevo Stadium to witness a match that is always different from all the others. Deportivo Táchira versus Caracas is always fiery.

The visitors struck first with a goal from Richard Celis a few minutes into the second half.

But in the 88th minute, Nelson “Teto” Hernandez would push the ball in at the far post, unleashing the madness of the “Aurinegros” fans and making the final score 1-1.

As a result, both Táchira and Caracas are sat in the qualifying spots for both the playoffs and the Copa Libertadores.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Angostura beat Metropolitanos 3-2.  Two goals came from 18-year-old Aldry Contreras, one of the best promising young talents in the FUTVE League. In doing so, the Ciudad Bolivar side moved into the Copa Sudamericana places. They’re closing in on Caracas, who are in fourth place.

To close the day, the team that seemed invincible went down. The same team that had accumulated 28 out of a possible 30 points, the highest scorer and lowest scorer. Puerto Cabello lost 2-3 away to Monagas, who are now in the fight with Táchira for second place. They could even dream of knocking Noel Sanvicente’s team off the top of the FUTVE League.