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Tough night for Green Falcons in Venezuela friendly defeat

JEDDAH: The last time Saudi Arabia met South American opposition, the West Asian powerhouse shocked billions by coming from behind to defeat eventual champions Argentina at the World Cup in November.

On Friday, however, there was no such comeback as the Green Falcons were brought down to earth with a bump as they lost 2-1 to Venezuela in Jeddah.

Much of the damage was done in the first half as the visitors, who defeated Herve Renard’s men 1-0 last June in the build up to the Qatar tournament, gave the hosts a lesson in clinical finishing.

It meant that this homecoming after the World Cup was not quite what anyone had in mind. There was plenty of energy and effort from the hosts but they struggled to create clear and meaningful chances against a determined opponent though, in the end, they came close to equalizing.  

The first goal came 26 minutes from Josef Martinez. Salomon Rondon floated a ball over from the left and Martinez, at full stretch, volleyed home with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Just eight minutes later, Rondon, now playing his club football for River Plate in Argentina after leaving the English Premier League, made it two.

The former Everton star received the ball 18 yards out, and then turned smartly to fire a low shot into the bottom corner. It could have been worse for Saudi Arabia as, three minutes before the break, Martinez’s second goal was ruled out by VAR.

For the hosts in the first half, Haroune Camara came closest to getting the home fans on their feet but the shot from the Al-Ittihad forward was saved by Alain Baroja in the Venezuelan goal.

As the second half progressed coach Renard, who has been linked recently with the vacant France women’s national team position, threw on a

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