Rafael Romo relieved MLS “nightmare” is in the past –

the Group stage in Copa America 2024 It’s coming to an end Venezuela is in a good position to book its place in the quarter-finals. the Vinotinto It leads Group Two after winning its opening match over Ecuador The battle with Mexico For one of the two qualifying positions later this evening.

Life couldn’t be much sweeter for a goalkeeper. Rafael Romo – There is no doubt about it His first choice with the national team and his club Catholic Universitywhich he made 22 games last year Between the Italian Serie A and the Copa Sudamericana. It’s a world away from his brief stint in the AFL, which he admits was a living nightmare.

In April 2022, Romo was acquired by D.C. United. On a free transfer from the Belgian club Oh love. After a promising start, things quickly began to deteriorate for the Venezuelan. He kept a clean sheet on his debut, coming on as a substitute for Bel Hamid in the 2-0 win over the visitors. Houston Dynamo Then after just a few days, Red balls Place three ahead of him in the US Open Cup. But to be fair, a lot of that was down to some absolutely shameful defense and through no fault of his own.

Romo is paying the price for mediocre defense at D.C. United

Romo appeared in a total of 14 regular season games with D.C. United13 of them are in the starting lineup. But the team won just three games while he was on the pitch, and after conceding 33 goals, he lost his place to David Ochoa.

His final game in the North American League could not have been more disastrous. D.C. United ended up losing 6-0 at home to the Philadelphia Union, but again, there wasn’t much they could do. Terrible defense didn’t help him — or his replacement, Ochoa, who Cincinnati outscored by five goals. The season is finished yet 71 goals conceded – Just FOur goals from the draw The worst single-season defensive figures in American League history.

“It wasn’t easy to come back. I had a nightmare season in Major League Soccer. “It was the most difficult of my career for many reasons,” Romo recalled during the press conference held on Tuesday before Venezuela’s match with Mexico.

Venezuela in Copa America 2024

After an unforgettable experience in 2022, Romo left Major League Soccer to get his career back on track with Universidad Católica in the Ecuadorian Premier League. In December, he signed a three-year contract extension with the club.

him too Fernando Batista is Venezuela’s first choice goalkeeper. Tonight against Mexico, he will make his 22nd cap for the national team, which will hope to go far in the Copa America and, with a little luck, achieve its best finish – fourth place in 2011.

The winners of Group B will face the runners-up of Group A, meaning that if they qualify for the next round, Venezuela may face Argentina or Canada in the quarter-finals. As things stand, Vinotinto will seek to secure top spot in its group and avoid a potential clash with the defending champion World champions in the quarter-finals.