FUTVE: Puerto Cabello strengthen their position without even playing

With Francisco Perlo’s team out of action (during the bye week), the chasing pack were unable to close the gap. Elsewhere, the Venezuelan league remains very evenly matched. 

It’s also a big month ahead for Liga FUTVE in South American competitions.

Universidad Central pull away from the bottom

At the start of Matchday 15, the Caracas side beat Rayo Zuliano 2-0 at the Estadio Olímpico and thus move away from the last place, which is occupied by Mineros. On the other hand, the away team is still in a bad form, having won only one of the last eight matches.

Later in the day, Angostura, who were coming off the back of three straight defeats, hosted Zamora at their stadium. The match ended 2-1 in favour of the home side, who managed to end their poor run of form and move into the Copa Sudamericana places. The opposite is the case for the visitors, who have now lost their third consecutive game and are languishing near the bottom of the table.

La Guaira and Deportivo Táchira kicked off the day’s action on Saturday with a dull 0-0 draw, without a single shot on goal. Daniel Farias’ team remain in the Copa Sudamericana places, while the “Aurinegros” are in second place in the FUTVE League, nine points behind Puerto Cabello.

Monagas struggling to bounce back

The team from the city of Maturin was aiming to put an end to their poor form (they had won just one of their last 11 games) and stay in the cup places. They hosted Caracas at the “Estadio Monumental”, and the match ended 2-0 in favour of the visitors, who, with this victory, managed to stay in the top 4 of the championship.

Monagas defender David Guevara was sent off for a double yellow card after 75 minutes.

After a run of five consecutive victories, Portuguesa have now lost two in a row, to Carabobo last week and to Metropolitanos this Saturday. As on the previous matchday, it was a 1-0 defeat for the team from Acarigua, who once again lost the chance to get into the top 4.

On the other hand, with this victory (with one man down, due to the sending off Francisco Bareiro after 57 minutes), Metropolitanos moved closer to the top 4 in the standings.

Carabobo in fine form

On Sunday, the Valencian team beat Estudiantes de Mérida 2-0, with an incredible goal from Michael Covea, who was voted MVP of Matchday 15. Juan Domingo Tolisano’s side are now unbeaten in six games (four wins and two draws) and are in third place in the Liga FUTVE, two points behind Deportivo Táchira.

Estudiantes de Mérida, however, have now lost seven of their last ten games, and are moving further and further away from the Copa Sudamericana places.

To close the Matchday 15, Mineros, who are in the relegation places and had lost six of their last seven games, faced Hermanos Colmenarez, an inconsistent team who are in 11th place in the standings. The match was surprisingly entertaining and ended in a 2-2 draw. Veteran Richard Blanco scored a brace for the Guayana side, including a wonder goal.