Manuela Vanegas and Gabriela Rodríguez give Colombia a 2-1 win over Venezuela and a perfect FIFA window

Colombia closed the October FIFA window with a perfect record: they beat Venezuela 2-1 on Tuesday at the Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento (CNAR) in Isla Margarita, in the second friendly between the two sides at the same venue. The goals came from Manuela Vanegas, from the penalty spot, and Gabriela Rodríguez, at the end of the first half. Venezuela pulled one back in the 87th minute and the closing stages were played on a knife edge.

An early penalty and a blow before the break

The match kicked off at 4 p.m. Colombian time and Ángelo Marsiglia's team took control of the ball from the start. The first decisive moment came before the 20-minute mark: a foul on Valerin Loboa inside the box and a penalty for Colombia. Defender Manuela Vanegas converted it with a finish to the right side to make it 1-0.

Venezuela grew into the first half and, in stoppage time, came close to an equaliser with a powerful strike that Colombia goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo turned around for a corner. It was La Vinotinto's best spell, but the blow came at the other end: in the 45+5th minute, Gabriela Rodríguez lifted the ball over goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales, who had come a long way off her line, to send the game to the break at 2-0.

Five changes at once and a nervy finish

After the restart Colombia kept the initiative in the opening minutes, Daniela Caracas was booked in the 54th minute, and Marsiglia used the friendly to go to his bench: just past the hour mark he made five substitutions at the same time. With so many changes, the team lost its cutting edge and Venezuela took over the final stretch. The home side got one back in the 87th minute, and there were six minutes of added time in which they chased an equaliser without finding it.

Two wins in Margarita

• Saturday 10: Colombia 1-0 Venezuela, Ingrid Guerra scoring in the 66th minute.
• Tuesday 13: Colombia 2-1 Venezuela, goals from Manuela Vanegas (penalty) and Gabriela Rodríguez.

An alternative squad with Brazil 2027 in mind

Marsiglia, who won the Conmebol Women's Nations League after beating Paraguay in the final, did not call up Linda Caicedo, Mayra Ramírez or Leicy Santos for this window, and used both matches to test new names ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, for which Colombia have already qualified alongside Brazil and Argentina. The squad included Daniela Garavito, of Independiente Santa Fe, who made her senior debut at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and Sara Sofía Martínez, of Atlético Nacional. At those Games, Colombia reached the final and lost it on penalties to Mexico.

For Venezuela, who have not secured a World Cup place and must go through the playoff in search of their first-ever appearance, the two-match series was a demanding test against one of the continent's powerhouses.

Colombia's 2026 calendar closes with friendlies against Australia: the first is confirmed for November 28.

Sources: Futbolred, Infobae, El Tiempo, El Colombiano, La FM, Federación Colombiana de Fútbol.