SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jhonder Cádiz and Eduard Bello scored second-half goals after subbing on at halftime and Venezuela rallied for a 2-1 win over short-handed Ecuador on Saturday night in the opening round of group play at the Copa America.

Enner Valencia, who went into the tournament expected to lead Ecuador’s attack, was shown a straight red card in the 22nd minute and Ecuador played a man down the rest of the way.

Ecuador, however, took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute when Jeremy Sarmiento took advantage of a failed clearance of a free kick into the area by Kendry Páez.

Cádiz played a one-touch shot from 15-yards out to make it 1-1 in the 64th minute.

Bello scored on a putback from point-blank range to give Venezuela a 2-1 lead in the 74th minute. Alexander González played an arcing entry from the right side to the center of the area and Salomón Rondón’s diving header was parried by goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez and Bello took advantage.

Rondón returned to the starting lineup after scoring as a substitute in the team’s last friendly match.

Ecuador, which entered the tournament ranked 30th in the FIFA rankings, plays Wednesday against Jamaica at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Venezuela, ranked 54th, plays Mexico on Wednesday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Venezuelan fans could be heard chanting, “Y va a car, y va a caer, este gobierno va a caer,” which translates to “And it’s going to fall, and it’s going to fall, this government is going to fall.” The chant comes ahead of the country’s presidential election on July 28.

Ecuador lost for just the second time in its last last 10 encounters against Venezuela in all competitions (4-5-2). The only other time Venezuela beat Ecuador at the Copa America was 1-0 in 2011.

Venezuela secured a crucial victory in the Copa America tournament as they defeated a short-handed Ecuador team with goals from Yeferson Cadiz and Jan Carlos Bello. The match, which took place at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, saw Venezuela dominate the game despite Ecuador being reduced to 10 men early in the first half.

The Venezuelan team started the game on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch and creating several scoring opportunities. Their efforts paid off in the 20th minute when Yeferson Cadiz found the back of the net with a powerful strike from outside the box. The goal gave Venezuela a deserved lead and put them in control of the match.

Ecuador’s task became even more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after a red card was shown to one of their players for a dangerous tackle. Despite being a man down, Ecuador showed resilience and tried to stay in the game, but Venezuela’s dominance was evident throughout the match.

In the second half, Venezuela continued to push forward and were rewarded with a second goal in the 65th minute. Jan Carlos Bello capitalized on a defensive error from Ecuador and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to double Venezuela’s lead. The goal sealed the victory for Venezuela and ensured they secured all three points in the group stage of the Copa America tournament.

The win was a significant boost for Venezuela, who are looking to make a strong impression in the tournament. With talented players like Cadiz and Bello leading the way, Venezuela will be hoping to build on this victory and continue their momentum in the competition.

Overall, Venezuela’s victory over a short-handed Ecuador team was a testament to their quality and determination. The team showed great attacking prowess and defensive solidity, which will be key as they look to progress further in the Copa America tournament. With their eyes set on success, Venezuela will be aiming to build on this win and make a statement in the competition.