Canada Secures 2-0 Victory Over Venezuela Despite Koné's Red Card
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Canada withstood a second-half red card to defeat Venezuela 2-0 at Chase Stadium on Tuesday night, securing victory despite playing with ten men for the final 30 minutes.
Ismaël Koné opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finishing precisely from the center of the box to give Canada an early advantage. The midfielder's goal came against the run of play as Venezuela controlled 59.7 percent of possession but struggled to convert territorial dominance into clear scoring opportunities.
The match's complexion changed dramatically when Venezuela's David Martínez received a straight red card for violent conduct in the 57th minute. Canada faced their own numerical disadvantage three minutes later when goalscorer Koné was dismissed, leveling both sides at ten men for the remainder of the contest.
Head coach Jesse Marsch reorganized his side into a defensive 4-4-1 formation, absorbing Venezuela's attacking pressure while searching for counterattacking opportunities. The tactical adjustment proved effective as Promise David sealed the victory in the 83rd minute, converting Niko Sigur's cross to double Canada's advantage.
Despite controlling possession and generating 10 shot attempts to Canada's eight, Venezuela managed just three shots on target. Canada converted four shots on goal into two crucial scores, demonstrating clinical efficiency against Fernando Batista's side.
The physical contest produced 41 combined fouls and seven yellow cards. Stephen Eustáquio received Canada's first caution in the 45th minute, while late frustration saw Mathieu Choinière (71'), Richie Laryea (88'), Joel Waterman (89'), and Promise David (90'+1') all booked in the closing stages. Venezuela's José Hernández and Gleiker Mendoza also received yellow cards as tensions escalated.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau preserved the clean sheet with three saves, organizing Canada's defensive structure effectively after the dismissal. The victory provides momentum for Marsch's side as they continue preparations for competitive fixtures.
