Venezuela Women 1-2 Colombia Women: Las Cafeteras Edge South American Friendly

Colombia Women secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Venezuela Women in an international friendly on October 14, 2026, using a late Linda Caicedo strike to settle a competitive South American contest. In a match that swung back and forth after Colombia’s early breakthrough, Venezuela responded well in the second half, but the visitors’ extra quality in the final third proved decisive.

The result gives Colombia another useful building block in their international preparations, while Venezuela can take encouragement from a performance that included a well-taken equalizer and several dangerous moments against one of the strongest sides in the region. The final score of Venezuela Women 1-2 Colombia Women reflects a game that was far tighter than the recent head-to-head pedigree of the two teams might have suggested.

Match Overview

Colombia started with intent, pressing high and looking to isolate their wide forwards against Venezuela’s full-backs. The early pressure told when Mayra Ramírez opened the scoring, finishing calmly after Colombia worked the ball into the penalty area with a sharp combination through the middle. It was the kind of goal that has become familiar for Las Cafeteras: direct, efficient, and ruthless.

Venezuela, however, did not fold. The Vinotinto Femenina grew into the game after the half-hour mark, finding space between Colombia’s midfield lines and forcing a series of set pieces. Their persistence paid off after the break when Deyna Castellanos equalized with a composed finish, lifting the home support and changing the momentum of the match.

For a period, Venezuela looked the more likely side to score next. They pressed Colombia deeper, won second balls in midfield, and created half-chances through quick transitions. But Colombia’s bench and big-game experience told. With the game opening up, Linda Caicedo produced the decisive moment, cutting inside from the left and curling a low effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

Key Moments

• 14’ — Colombia’s first clear chance: Mayra Ramírez races onto a through ball but sees her shot saved at the near post.
• 24’ — Colombia goal: Ramírez opens the scoring after a quick exchange on the edge of the box, finishing into the bottom corner.
• 39’ — Venezuela threaten from a corner, but Colombia’s defense clears under pressure.
• 52’ — Venezuela goal: Deyna Castellanos equalizes with a neat first-time finish after a flowing move down the right.
• 67’ — Venezuela’s best spell: a driven cross flashes across goal, but no one can apply the final touch.
• 78’ — Colombia goal: Linda Caicedo restores Colombia’s lead with a curling strike from the left side of the box.
• 89’ — Venezuela push numbers forward, but Colombia’s goalkeeper commands the area to see out the win.

Tactical Story

Colombia lined up in a flexible 4-2-3-1, with Ramírez leading the line and Caicedo drifting from the left to find spaces between Venezuela’s right-back and center-back. That movement caused problems all evening. Colombia’s midfield duo screened the defense well in the first half, though they were stretched after the break when Venezuela increased their tempo and committed more players forward.

Venezuela’s 4-4-2 shape was compact without the ball and looked to spring forward through Castellanos and the wide runners. Their equalizer came from exactly that pattern: a quick turnover, a direct pass into the channel, and a calm finish. For long stretches, Venezuela matched Colombia physically and looked capable of finding a winner. The difference was Colombia’s ability to create a high-quality chance late in the game, even when they were not at their fluent best.

Colombia’s substitutions also helped. Fresh legs in wide areas allowed them to keep attacking rather than simply defend the draw, and Caicedo’s goal came during a phase when Venezuela had begun to drop slightly deeper. It was a professional closing performance from the visitors, who managed the final ten minutes with maturity.

Standout Players

Mayra Ramírez (Colombia Women) — Opened the scoring and constantly occupied Venezuela’s center-backs. Her hold-up play and movement in behind gave Colombia a reliable focal point.

Linda Caicedo (Colombia Women) — The match-winner. Caicedo was lively throughout, and her second-half goal was the clearest example of her ability to change a game in an instant.

Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela Women) — Venezuela’s most dangerous player. She too