Colombia Beats Venezuela 2-1 in Women’s International Friendly Match

The Colombia women’s national football team defeated Venezuela 2–1 on October 13, 2026, at the Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento in Isla Margarita, sweeping their two-match international friendly series.

Colombia Conquers Isla Margarita in Friendly Series Sweep

Playing their second friendly fixture of the October FIFA window, manager Ángelo Marsiglia’s squad controlled proceedings early against their neighbors. The victory follows a 1–0 win on October 10, 2026, secured by an Ingrid Guerra goal at the same venue. The Federación Colombiana de Fútbol noted that the team relied on defensive organization to navigate an evenly contested fixture before breaking the deadlock.

Colombia took the lead in the 17th minute when defender Manuela Vanegas converted from the penalty spot after Valerin Loboa was brought down inside the box.

Tactical Shifts and Second-Half Pressure From La Vinotinto

After the intermission, Venezuela increased its attacking pressure through crosses and long-range efforts, testing Colombian goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo on multiple occasions. Agudelo responded with crucial stops in one-on-one situations around the 70th and 75th minutes to preserve the clean sheet for over an hour.

Marsiglia utilized the second half to test squad depth, introducing substitutes including Sara Martínez, Ana María Guzmán, and Ingrid Guerra. The tactical changes altered the rhythm of the match, allowing Venezuela to gain ground. In the 87th minute, Enyerliannys Higuera capitalized on a loose ball inside the area to beat the defense and narrow the deficit to 2–1. Despite the late push from the home side, Colombia managed the remaining minutes and six minutes of stoppage time to secure the result.

Squad Management and Preparations for Global Tournaments

The coaching staff constructed the roster for this tour without several European- and North American-based standouts. According to El Tiempo, Marsiglia did not call up Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo, Chelsea forward Mayra Ramírez, or Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos, while midfielder Ilana Izquierdo missed the concentration due to injury. Instead, the team integrated fresh talent following their run at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

El Colombiano reported that the squad experienced external turbulence during the camp regarding goalkeeper Katherine Tapia, who received a club notification from Palmeiras excluding her from their Copa Libertadores roster due to disciplinary reasons after requesting an early family leave. Teammates and the coaching staff extended support to the netminder during the concentration.

Next Fixtures on the Road to 2027

Both federations utilize these friendly matches as direct preparation for upcoming official competitions. While Venezuela focuses on its campaign toward a historic World Cup playoff berth, Colombia is building depth for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Federación Colombiana de Fútbol confirmed that the team will return to action in November and December with international friendly matches against Australia.