Yangel Herrera captained Venezuela to yet another shutout at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. (Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports)
SUWON, Korea — Yangel Herrera and Venezuela are going to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup as not only group winners, but undefeated and untied leaders and with three consecutive clean sheets.
The New York City FC midfielder captained the Venezuelans to a 1-0 victory over Mexico in a Group B encounter at Suwon World Cup Stadium Friday.
Venezuela (3-0-0, 9 points) finished the group stage outscoring its foes, 10-0.
The team will meet host a team to be determined — a third-place team from Group A, C or D — at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon Tuesday.
Herrera played the full 90 minutes for the South American side, which will compete in the Round of 16 next week.
Sergio Cordova tallied the lone goal of the match, his fourth of the tourney, in the 33rd minute.
A through ball from Adalberto Penaranda found Cordova, who shook off his defender, dribbled past goalkeeper Abraham Romero and slotted the ball home.
The Mexicans (1-1-1, 4), who also qualified for the knockout round due to better goal differential over Germany (1-1-1, 4), zero to minus one, tried to knot it up, but Venezuela’s defense prevailed.