Venezuela takes 1-0 win over Jamaica in Copa America group play

The temperature was perfect, the weather pristine with sunshine that allowed you to see the smokestacks in scenic Indiana from the lakefront — perfect conditions for the Copa America Centenario, the biggest soccer tournament to grace Chicago since the World Cup in 1994.

But not many bothered to show up.

An announced crowd of 25,560 showed up at Soldier Field to watch Venezuela upset Jamaica, 1-0, in both teams’ opening match of the tournament, but the only way there were 25,560 people in the stands at Soldier Field was if you counted everyone twice, maybe even three times. There were vocal factions from each side there, but the atmosphere of a competitive international soccer match was stifled with so many empty seats and echoing noise in the spaceship by Lake Michigan.

Those fans who did show up saw an entertaining match. For one, it’s not every day that a soccer coach gets a red card, as Jamaican Coach Winfried Schaefer did at halftime. That came after one of his players, midfielder Rodolph Austin, received a red card in the 24th minute leaving Jamaica a man down for the rest of the match.

And the biggest name on the field Sunday — Jamaica’s Wes Morgan — did not start the game.

Morgan, who is the captain of longshot Premier League champion Leicester City, did not enter until the 40th minute.

Venezuela took advantage while Morgan was out of the game. Jamaica turned the ball over in its half, giving Venezuela a chance to attack. Some quick ball movement allowed Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez to get the ball behind the Jamaica defense.

Martinez carried the ball all the way to the left side six-yard box where he drilled a shot through the legs of Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake.

chine@tribpub.com