Mariappa adds to the booking parade with a late foul.
90' +1
A. González enters the game and replaces A. Guerra.
Venezuela run more time off the clock as Alexander Gonzalez replaces Guerra.
90'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this match.
88'
M. Binns enters the game and replaces J. Watson.
HAS TO BE BETTER! Venezuela work a free-kick straight from the training ground as a pass across to Guerra finds the attacker wide-open atop the area, but he makes terrible contact with his effort and can't get it through on goal!
Watson is replaced for the dying minutes by midfielder Michael Binns.
86'
R. Otero enters the game and replaces L. Seijas.
Venezuela make their second change as they try and wind down the clock, coming under a bit of pressure in these final 10 minutes. Romulo Otero replaces Seijas.
85'
STAT: Since the change to the new format in 1975, only twice in 15 attempts have Venezuela advanced past the group stage, but they did so in two of their last three attempts (2007, 2011).
83'
MARIAPPA CLOSE AGAIN! The centre-half latches onto a corner, beating his marker with ease, and sends a powerful header back across goal. Hernandez dives across to make the save, but in the end it's one for the cameras as it was rather straightforward.
81'
Jamaica have to throw caution to the wind now. They can't worry about being down a man. You don't want your goal differential to worsen, but a loss in this game would really make it difficult on them to try and progress.
79'
It looked like there were going to be goals aplenty in this match based on the opening 15 minutes, but the drought at the Copa America continues. Barring a late goal here tonight at Soldier Field, there have been just four goals in the opening five matches at the tournament.
Minute
Description
77'
L. Williamson enters the game and replaces M. Hector.
A. Peñaranda enters the game and replaces Josef Martínez.
Venezuela take off the lone scorer of the match, with Martinez replaced by Granada teenager Adalberto Penaranda.
Chelse product and Reading loanee Michael Hector is replaced by Jamaica, with Blackburn's Lee Williamson entering the fray.
76'
STAT: Last year’s debut against Colombia was Venezuela’s only win in their opening game in the Copa America (1-0).
75'
O. Vizcarrondo gets yellow.
Vizcarrondo goes into the book, as Jamaica get it going here. They can pose a real threat from this ensuing free-kick.
74'
BLAZED OVER! Was that the chance?! Watson latches onto a loose ball atop the area and has a clean sight of goal, but lifts his effort over the bar! That's a real let-off for Venezuela!
72'
Venezuela have to up the tempo a bit. They're playing a man up, have Jamaica on the ropes, and are enjoying the bulk of possession, yet they're creating absolutely nothing from open play. With all due respect to Jamaica, this won't cut it for Venezuela against the likes of Mexico and Uruguay.
70'
BLAKE TO THE RESCUE! Venezuela respond with their first shot on target of the second half, and it comes from a corner. Angel dives to meet a corner, but his header is brilliantly kept out by Blake! The keeper dove across and somehow got a hand to it!
68'
MCANUFF CAN'T FINISH! A delightful run from Mariappa down the right-hand side holds promise for the Reggae Boyz. He pulls one back admirably for McAnuff, but the Leyton midfielder bullies an effort wide of the near post! That had to be better!
66'
THE BALL IS IN.... BUT IT DOESN'T COUNT! Morgan fends off a challenge with his big frame, turns and volleys an effort at goal that Hernandez parries. Donaldson pounces on the rebound and slots it home, but the whistle went long before for a foul in the area.
64'
STAT: Venezuela have not lost any of their last three opening games of a Copa America season (W1, D2), after losing all of the previous 10.
62'
RONDON THWARTED! The striker as been on the periphery for the bulk of the match, but he's coming alive now. He gets on the end of a well-worked move, but Blake dives over to his left to keep it out!
60'
Martinez can't connect! Rondon and the goalscorer work a nifty one-two, but the return pass just evades Martinez who would have been through! The presence of Wes Morgan at the back has really helped shore up the Venezuela defence.
58'
Venezuela, despite their overwhelming possession, are creating precious little. They really need another goal to make life more comfortable on themselves or, even with Jamaica down a man, we could be heading for a tense finish.
56'
The game is being played at a very slow tempo, which suits Venezuela as they're keen to keep the ball away from Jamaica and park themselves in the attacking half. Jamaica aren't pressing much at all anymore, which is making life incredibly easy on the South American outfit.
54'
A terrific spell in possession for Venezuela comes to a disappointing end as Figuera drags a shot well wide of the far post from 25 yards. Venezuela are growing in stature, but they need to start asking a few more questions.
52'
STAT: Venezuela have scored nine goals in the last two Copa Americas, seven of them coming in the second half of play.
50'
HECTOR RINGS IT OFF THE WOODWORK! Inches away from an equaliser for the Reggae Boyz as Hector latches onto a pass on the top-left corner of th area and curls a first-time effort beyond Hernandez and off the far post!
48'
Jamaica start the second half controlling possession, despite being short a man. Their little spell at the end of the first half seems to have provided them with a much-needed boost in confidence.
46'
Back underway at Soldier Field!
45' +2
A. Figuera gets yellow.
Figuera is booked with a foul right at the end of this first half.
45'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of this first half, as Jamaica muster a decent push for an equaliser. The tides are just shifting a bit here approaching the interval.
43'
INCHES AWAY! Morgan nearly makes an immediate impact as he runs to meet Giles' free-kick, but is just a step behind as he can't get on the end of it! That would have been quite a shift in momentum before half-time.
41'
STAT: Jamaica have played three games in the Copa America, losing each of them by 0-1 scoreline.
40'
W. Morgan enters the game and replaces K. Lawrence.
ON COMES BIG WES! The Premier League champions is introduced, and you have to wonder why he didn't start if he was cleared to participate. Lawrence gives way.
39'
A sight for sore eyes on the Jamaican touchline as Wes Morgan is spotted warming up on the touchline, as Lawrence pulls up lame. Injuries have taken over here as the tempo fizzles out drastically.
37'
Seijas is alright to continue, and he makes his way back on the pitch as Feltscher replaces him on the ground. The left-back is claiming he got stomped on, but it doesn't look a real worry for Venezuela as he pops back up with a slight limp.
35'
Play comes to a halt, a much-needed break at that for Jamaica, as Seijas is down after having his bell rung by Lawrence. The Jamaica left-back came inside to head the ball, which didn't end up happening, but braces himself for a collision with the unsuspecting Seijas. That was an elbow to the head, but nothing is given.
33'
Venezuela are ripping through their short-handed opponents, looking more and more like doubling their lead. Guerra finds himself wide open in the area following a corner, but somehow lifts an effort miles over the bar! Jamaica's marking on set-pieces has been horrendous to say the least.
31'
STAT: Jamaica did not score in Copa America 2015, registering only two shots on target from 21 attempts (15 off target and four blocked).
29'
SMART SAVE! Dazzling run from Rosales, who finds all sorts of space before opting to try and cut into a more central locale. He skips beyond two challenges before picking out the near post with his weaker foot, but Blake is able to get across and knock it behind.
27'
Venezuela have a golden opportunity now to boost their goal differential, which could help a great deal down the road. Jamaica have to completely alter their shape now, moving Hector - who can play defence - into Watson's spot. Giles has dropped into midfield to fill that vacancy, leaving Donaldson alone up top.
25'
Watson played into the referee's hands by not controlling his follow-through, and a red card has been given for those sorts of fouls many times in the past, but you have to feel for him too. There was no intent in his actions, just a bit of bad luck.
23'
R. Austin goes off after a red card!
JAMAICA DOWN TO 10 MEN! It goes from bad to worse for the Reggae Boyz as Austin is given his marching orders as he catches Rincon just above the ankle with his studs on the follow-through! It's a dangerous foul, but also a bit harsh on the New England defender.
22'
It's amazing how a goal can change everything. Jamaica were looking so dangerous before conceding, but since Martinez's opener, Venezuela have been probing for a second - and looking very capable in the process.
20'
M. Hector gets yellow.
Hector's rough first half continues as he picks up the first booking with a dangerous tackle in the defensive half.
19'
STAT: These two sides last met on March 27, 2015 in a friendly game, with Jamaica winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Giles Barnes and Darren Mattock (Gabriel Cichero for Venezuela).
17'
Goals have been scarce thus far at the Copa America, with just three in the first four games, but it's looking like this match may more than make up for the drought! We already have one, and there very well could have been two or three more already. It's been an incredibly open match.
15'
Josef Martínez has scored a goal for Venezuela! Assist by A. Guerra.
Excellent movement and vision from Guerra to play that ball through, as he picks up the assist.
TEXTBOOK COUNTER AND VENEZUELA LEAD! Outstanding break from the Vinotinto, following a dreadful giveaway from Hector! Figuera picks out Guerra, who quickly rolls a throughball in for Martinez, and the Torino striker produces a wonderfully composed finish to break the deadlock!
14'
Jamaica are looking incredibly potent as they continue on the ascendency, with Venezuela struggling to cope at the back. The South American side look confident in possession when they have it, but they have to do better to organise themselves defensively.
12'
OFF THE BAR! Amidst a cluster of bodies in the centre, Watson rises highest to meet the corner, but rattles a header off the bar! Jamaica inching closer to the opener!
11'
NARROW MISS! More route one football from Jamaica, this coming from a long goal-kick by Blake. It's flicked on for Donaldson who unleashes an effort that Hernandez had to dive to tip over the bar!
9'
OUCH! Excellent run by Martinez down the right, showing some impressive pace of his own. He enters the area and looks to play in a cross, but it smacks into the groin of Taylor who goes down in a heap. That absolutely has to hurt.
7'
Venezuela are looking a bit scattered after their positive start, pinned back in their end courtesy of the high pressing from the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica aren't afraid to commit bodies forward, living by the motto 'fortune favours the bold,' it would seem.
5'
Despite limited possession, you can see how Jamaica want to approach things on the front foot, playing route one football in an attempt to best utilise their pace. A clever pass over the top springs McAnuff into space down the left, but his attempted pull-back can't pick out Barnes in the centre.
3'
The first chance falls to Venezuela, following a long throw down the right flank. The ball is played into the area Seijas looks to pounce, but Blake is alert in coming off his line to collect in a timely matter.
1'
And we're off! Venezuela in their burgundy kits, attacking left to right, with Jamaica in yellow.
Hello and welcome to live coverage as Jamaica and Venezuela open Group C when they face-off at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois!
Jamaica made their Copa America debut last summer, but after posting a trio of 1-0 defeats, they’re back in 2016 and hungry for more. Coach Winfried Schafer feels that wasn’t an accurate representation of what they’re capable of, and will set out tonight to prove they belong.
Venezuela have fared better in recent editions of the Copa, but their abysmal record to kick-off World Cup qualifying. The Vinotinto sit bottom after six matches, registering just a single point. If they are to salvage something from the campaign, they will have to gather some momentum with a strong showing at the Centenario.
The quality of opposition only gets tougher from here on out for these two sides, as Mexico and Uruguay await, meaning defeat for one of these teams would make qualification for the knockout stage a rather daunting task.
With Wes Morgan "tired" from Leicester's championship celebrations, Adrian Mariappa and Jermaine Taylor are tasked with holding down the fort at the back, between Kemar Lawrence and Je-Vaughn Watson, three of whom play their club football in the United States, with Mariappa (Crystal Palace) the lone exception.
Garath McCleary and Rodolph Austin will man the flanks in midfield, providing support for the strike duo of Clayton Donaldon and Giles Barnes, with Leyton Orient's Jobi McAnuff and Reading's Michael Hector providing the spine in midfield - it's the most experienced side boss Winfried Schafer could have selected.
There's very few surprises in the Venezuela side as well, with the vastly experienced Roberto Rosales and Oswaldo Vizcarrondo anchoring the defence, alongside the relatively fresh faces of Wilker Angel and Rolf Feltscher, as Alexander Gonzalez is left on the bench. Skipper Tomas Rincon partners Arquimedes Figuera in midfield.
West Brom's Salomon leads the line with 16 goals in 49 caps, making his 50th today, and he'll be supported by the formidable trio of Internacional's Luis Manuel Seijas, Atletico Nacional's Alejandro Guerra, and Rincon's Torino team-mate Josef Martinez.
It's a surprisingly sparse crowd at Soldier field, don't let the cameras fool you. The side opposite the television crew is packed, to give the illusion of a full stadium, but there's far more empty seats than not around the rest of the stadium. There's a large Jamaican contingent who made the trip to cheer on their Reggae Boyz, while Venezuela's support is a bit scattered.
HALF-TIME: JAMAICA 0-1 VENEZUELA.
Josef Martinz has Venezuela leading 10-man Jamaica at the interval, following Je-Vaughn Watson's sending off. The South American side have deserved their lead, but a nice push towards the end of the half from the Reggae Boyz has left it nicely poised for the second half.
That's all for our live coverage from Soldier Field, thanks for following along! Goodbye.
Josef Martinez's first-half goal helps Venezuela kick-off their Copa campaign with three points, against the 10 men of the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica failed to equalise in the second half despite a plethora of chances, while the Vinotinto narrowly escape with the win after an abysmal second-half performance.
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