Venezuela outsmarts Australia in tight friendly win

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

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HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 14, 2025) In a hard-fought international friendly at Shell Energy Stadium, Venezuela secured a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Australia, dealing a blow to the Socceroos' preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match highlighted Venezuela's transitional phase under interim coaches Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Fernando Aristiguieta, while exposing some vulnerabilities in Australia's experimental lineup.

The game's lone goal arrived in the 38th minute, with winger Ender Echenique delivering a precise low cross from the left flank after sneaking past Australia's Craig Goodwin. Forward Jesús Ramírez, making a well-timed run into the box, tapped home from close range. Ramírez's finish was clinical, capitalizing on a momentary lapse in Australia's backline.

Venezuela dictated the tempo for much of the contest, enjoying approximately 65% possession and racking up over 400 passes in Australia's half compared to the Socceroos' 154. They generated the majority of chances, forcing debutant goalkeeper Patrick Beach into several acrobatic saves; including a stunning reaction stop from point-blank range early in the second half. La Vinotinto's back four, anchored by Jhon Chancellor and Mikel Villanueva, remained compact and disciplined, frustrating Australia's attempts to penetrate through the middle.

For Australia, it was a chastening evening under new coach Tony Popovic, who opted for a youthful, experimental 3-4-3 formation to test fringe players ahead of tougher fixtures like their upcoming clash with Colombia. Four newcomers made their senior debuts: goalkeeper Patrick Beach), defender Paul Okon-Engstler, center-back Kai Trewin, and forward Mohamed Toure. Beach, in particular, shone with his shot-stopping, but the side as a whole lacked cohesion, managing just 34% possession and failing to register a shot on target until the final 15 minutes.

Substitutes like Martin Boyle, Al Hassan Toure, and Riley McGree injected some late urgency, creating a flurry of half-chances] including a free-kick opportunity that skimmed the wall, but it proved too little, too late.