Despite losing 3-0 to Argentina on Thursday, Venezuela entered the final matchday of qualifying in pole position to beat Bolivia to the inter-confederation play-off spot.
A fervent but nervous crowd in Maturín were treated to an electric start, which produced three goals inside 12 minutes, including Telasco Segovia’s third-minute opener. The Inter Miami midfielder latched onto Salomon Rondon’s neat layoff, before he worked the ball onto his right foot to blast an unstoppable strike out of Kevin Mier’s reach.
Unfortunately for the hosts, their jubilation soon turned to frustration when Yerry Mina powered a header home from James Rodriguez's corner to net his first international goal since June 2021.
However, the mood almost instantly changed again when Colombia goalkeeper Kevin Mier handed the lead back to La Vinotinto. Mier fumbled a driven shot at his post, allowing the alert Josef Martinez to squeeze the ball over the line.
Buoyed by his close-range effort, Martinez nearly conjured up a special goal when he sent his ambitious bicycle kick looping against the crossbar. From nearly doubling their advantage, the hosts soon lost their lead for the second time, as Luis Suarez prodded in his first international goal from Luis Diaz’s inviting knockdown on the stroke of HT.
That proved to be an appetizer to what Suárez had in store for Venezuela in the second period, racking up three goals inside the space of 17 destructive minutes.
The Sporting CP forward gave Colombia the lead for the first time in the contest when he shimmied inside onto his right to drill a low shot past Rafael Romo.
Suarez delivered another driven strike to seal his hat-trick after racing onto Diaz’s perfectly-weighted through ball, before he steered home his fourth from close range to stretch the visitors’ lead. Rondon soon reduced that advantage, only for Jhon Cordoba to slot the ball through Romo’s legs to quash any hopes of a fightback.
The heavy defeat, combined with Bolivia’s surprise win over Brazil, ensured Venezuela dropped out of the play-off spot, ending their World Cup dreams. As for Nestor Lorenzo, his charges will be satisfied with a third-place finish.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luis Suarez (Colombia)
View the match stats to the nine-goal thriller on Flashscore.