Venezuela defeated Chile 4-2 in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales making two saves to secure the team’s second consecutive title in the competition.
The Daily Journal.- Venezuela’s women’s soccer team claimed its second consecutive gold medal at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026 after defeating Chile 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The match, held at the Rosario Soccer Association venue, went to penalties after both teams remained level at the end of 90 minutes.
Chile took the lead in the 49th minute through Antonella Martínez, but Venezuela equalized in stoppage time. Karla Alfonzo converted a penalty in the 90th+1 minute to level it at 1-1 and send the match to a shootout.
Venezuelan goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales played a decisive role in the shootout, saving two Chilean attempts. Alfonzo, Abril Alejo, and Rebanales herself scored for Venezuela, while Anaís Álvarez and Geraldine Mardones converted for Chile. Antonella Martínez and Vaitiare Pardo missed their respective attempts.
With the victory, Venezuela successfully defended the title it won at the XII South American Games in Asunción 2022, when the women’s U-20 team also defeated Uruguay in a penalty shootout, winning 5-4.
Rebanales, the team captain and a key figure in the shootout, highlighted Venezuela’s determination in the tournament.
“We knew we were the defending champions, so we weren’t going to let the title slip through our fingers,” the goalkeeper said.
The captain also emphasized that Venezuela competed in Santa Fe with a U-17 squad against U-20 opponents.
“Even though this is a U-20 tournament and we are U-17, we went after that medal so our national anthem could be heard here once again, for all the victims of the double earthquake in our country. We will get through this,” Rebanales added.
With information from a press release.
