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Venezuela qualifies for U-17 Women's World Cup 2016

Xinhua, March 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Venezuela's under-17 women's soccer team qualified for the International Federation of Association Football's (FIFA) World Cup Jordan 2016 after crushing Paraguay 6-2 in the second leg of the final round of the 5th South American Championship on Thursday.

The match took place in the Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto, in the central western state of Lara.

With one match still to play in the tournament, Venezuela secured their ticket to the World Cup which will take place between September and October. Brazil also qualified after defeating Colombia 2-0 earlier on Thursday.

The third World Cup pass will go to the winners of the Colombia vs Paraguay match to be played on Sunday, the last day of the championship. On this day, Venezuela and Brazil will also face each other in the final.

With two goals from Yerliana Moreno and a hat-trick from Deyna Castellanos - currently the tournament's top goalscorer with 11 goals - and one from Jeismar Cabeza, Venezuela remain undefeated in the South American tournament. Paraguay's goals came from Dayana Bogarin and Limpia Fretes.

Catellanos, who is also the team's captain, celebrated the team's qualification and expressed her desire to win the World Cup.

"We are very happy because we have achieved the first goal which was classifying for Jordan. It was an excellent match. We hope they (all the fans) come on Sunday to fill Cabudare's Metropolitan Stadium to see us win the championship," said Castellanos.

The team's coach, Kenneth Zseremeta, said "I have Venezuela's heart with me. When I go (to Jordan) I will take all this appreciation and love that has been given to us by the country. I am full of blessings."

Venezuela, the championship's host and current defending champion in the U-17 women's category, seeks to win the tournament for a second consecutive time under the instruction of Zseremeta. Winning the championship in Paraguay 2013 allowed them to progress to the World Cup 2014 in Costa Rica.

In 2014, the young women lost to Japan in the semifinals and then to Italy in penalties during the match for the third place. Endi