With another Matchday of FUTVE League fixtures completed, the fight for playoff places is getting closer and closer, while in the relegation zone there seems to be a clear favorite for relegation.

Edder Farias’ clutch goal to gives La Guaira

Matchday 21 began on Thursday with the match between Angostura and La Guaira. The Naranja managed to grind out a 2-1 win, both goals scored by players who came off the bench.

Ronaldo Chacón gave his team the lead with a great goal from outside the box. With the game tied at 1-1, Yackson Rivas made a spectacular play and left Edder Farías alone to push the ball and grab the winner.

Portuguesa moves into playoff places

The following day, Portuguesa beat Universidad Central 1-0 away, with Richard Blanco scoring from the penalty spot after 32 minutes. The team coached by Jesús Ortiz accumulated their fifth win in the last six matches. They remain undefeated in this second round of the FUTVE League.

With this result, Portuguesa continue to settle in third place in the championship, while Universidad Central are in second to last place, two points from relegation.

Later in the day, Monagas managed to break their negative streak of four consecutive defeats and beat Zamora 2-1. After Zamora’s goal, the Maturin side managed to come back from a man down (due to the sending off of Andres Romero after 51 minutes), with goals from Christopher Rodriguez and Fernando Basante.

Puerto Cabello remain on top

As usual, the team coached by Francisco Perlo continues to be at the top of this Liga FUTVE, and this Friday night managed to move five points away from their main pursuers, Deportivo Táchira. They secured a 1-0 away win over Hermanos Colmenarez, with Dutchman Stevy Okitokandjo scoring his first goal on Venezuelan soil.

On the side of Hermanos, they increased their losing streak to five consecutive defeats.

Saturday started with a game lacking in excitement between Rayo Zuliano and Carabobo, as the match ended 0-0. 80 minutes into the game, Carabobo player Brayan Rodriguez was sent off for a double yellow card.

The team from Valencia moves away from the third place, occupied by Portuguesa, and will have to keep fighting for fourth.

Mineros facing the drop

Later in the day, Caracas beat Mineros 1-3 in Guayana, and thus moved ever closer to the playoff places in this Liga FUTVE. The away team’s goals were scored by Edson Rivas, Ade Oguns and Emanuel Mercado, while Jefferson Caraballo scored for the home team.

Mineros are struggling to get back on their feet and are unable to take advantage of Universidad Central’s poor results to move off the bottom of the table. The Guyanese side have lost nine of their last 15 matches, drawn four and won just one.

To close the day, Estudiantes de Mérida pulled off a surprise and beat Metropolitanos 1-0 away, with a goal from Ervin Zorrilla, who was voted the MVP of this Matchday 21 of the FUTVE League.

With this victory, Franklin Lucena’s team managed to settle in the Copa Sudamericana places, while Metropolitanos lost the chance to get into the top four.