Venezuela's media were on a cloud on Monday as they revelled in the national team's first ever qualification for the Copa America semi-finals after fancied Chile were ousted on Sunday.
Oswaldo Vizcarrondo and Gabriel Cichero scored the goals that took the Vinotinto through to a Wednesday meeting with Paraguay and the newspapers were full of the story.
"Venezuela, the best vinotinto," enthused sports daily Meridiano -- vinotinto means red wine in Spanish.
El Universal was equally impressed.
"The national side did everything. They played well, lost their way a bit, righted themselevs and had a bit of luck -- the luck of winners and those who work hard," the paper wrote.
"Glory to the brave team," wrote El Nacional, in its own amended version of the national anthem, which sings 'Glory to the Brave People'.
President Hugo Chavez, facing chemotherapy in Cuba, used similar language on his Twitter feed after the game.
Sports daily Lider said that people should now respect a side who were cannon fodder only a few short years ago at this level.
"Let them be respected," wrote the paper as it showed a photograph of Cichero with his finger over his mouth to silence shocked Chilean fans.
Meridiano acknowledged that the Chileans had played well.
"To say Venezuela were superior would not be honest, but it is fair to say (Venezuela) pulled things off better."
Source: AFP
