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Venezuela national team coach Rafael Dudamel pulled off an impressive 3-1 win over Argentina on Saturday in Madrid.
After the match, he said he was offering his resignation as Venezuela national team coach.
Dudamel said he felt he was used politically after meeting with Antonio Ecarri, the pick of Juan Guaidó to be ambassador to Spain. Guaidó is the head of the National Assembly who is opposing Nicolas Maduro’s presidency in Venezuela, with some countries recognizing Guaidó as the acting president of the country. Maduro's re-election in 2018 was deemed illegitimate by some foreign governments.
The meeting between the Venezuela national team coach and players and Ecarri was supposed to be private, Dudamel said, but Guaidó posted the meeting to social media.
Mucho éxito a nuestra @SeleVinotinto en su juego de hoy. Cada vez que salen a la cancha, ustedes representan la fuerza y la determinación de todo nuestro país, representan el alma de esta nación. https://t.co/lfLuy8qBng
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) March 22, 2019
After the meeting, Venezuela went out and beat Argentina 3-1 in a friendly at the Wanda Metropolitano, La Vinotinto’s first win over La Albiceleste since 2011.
The match was the first time Lionel Messi played for Argentina since the 2018 World Cup, but it wasn’t a happy return for La Pulga.
Messi's first game for #Argentina since last summer's World Cup definitely didn't go to plan, in 3-1 loss to Venezuela.
Once again, the rest of the team struggled around him, while he spent the whole game looking like he regretted his decision to return.#ARGVEN #Messi pic.twitter.com/CXknC1KJgw— Joga Bonito (@Jasoninho10) March 22, 2019
Newcastle United’s Salomón Rondón put Venezuela in front in the sixth minute.
GOOOAAAL: In just the 6th minute, Rondon puts @FVF_Oficial up -over @Argentina pic.twitter.com/5cYGo64YHy
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 22, 2019
Jhon Murillo then made it 2-0 just before halftime.
GOOOAAAL: After a quick restart, Jhon Murillo doubles @FVF_Oficial lead over @Argentina -
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 22, 2019
Messi did spark the attack that led to Argentina’s lone goal in the 59th minute.
GOOOAAAL: @Argentina break free and Lautaro Martínez cuts the @FVF_Oficial lead in half
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 22, 2019
But Major League Soccer star Josef Martinez put the match away with one of his trademark hop penalty shots in the 75th minute.
GOAL: A skipping Josef Martinez converts from the spot to put @FVF_Oficial up - over @Argentina
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 22, 2019
Despite the win, after the match Venezuela national team coach Dudamel said after the match he was offering his resignation after being used politically.
“Today was denigrating; it’s unfortunate how they have acted,” Dudamel said.
Entrenador de la selección venezolana, Rafael Dudamel, pone su cargo a disposición https://t.co/rmMMknvopw pic.twitter.com/oip4jPIIep
— RT en Español (@ActualidadRT) March 23, 2019
Dudamel did say he would stay on for a friendly against Catalunya, a national team not sanctioned by FIFA or UEFA, on Monday in Girona. He'll then speak with federation officials to discuss his future.
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