title: 2008–09 in Venezuelan football
text: # 2008–09 in Venezuelan football
  
  The following article presents a summary of the 2008-09 football season in Venezuela.
  
  ## Segunda División A
  
  ### Torneo Apertura ("Opening" Tournament)
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Unión Atlético Trujillo | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 14 | +15 | 36 |
  | 2 | Real Esppor Club | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 13 | +17 | 32 |
  | 3 | Centro Italo Venezolano | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 15 | +16 | 31 |
  | 4 | Trujillanos FC | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 29 |
  | 5 | Policía de Lara | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 24 |
  | 6 | Caracas FC B | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 21 |
  | 7 | Hermandad Gallega | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 21 |
  | 8 | UCV FC | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 19 | -1 | 20 |
  | 9 | Deportivo Barinas | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 18 | +5 | 18 |
  | 10 | Yaracuyanos FC | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 18 |
  | 11 | Unión Lara | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 25 | -3 | 18 |
  | 12 | Atlético Varyná | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 19 | -5 | 16 |
  | 13 | Baralt FC | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 15 |
  | 14 | Atlético Piar FC | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 25 | -14 | 14 |
  | 15 | UNEFA FC | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 13 |
  | 16 | UCLA FC | 15 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 39 | -32 | 5 |
  
  Last updated: 14 December 2008 Source: FVF Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ### Torneo Clausura ("Closing" Tournament)
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Centro Italo Venezolano | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 12 | +19 | 33 |
  | 2 | Real Esppor Club | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 15 | +12 | 31 |
  | 3 | Trujillanos FC | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 31 |
  | 4 | Unión Atlético Trujillo | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 24 |
  | 5 | Deportivo Barinas | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 23 |
  | 6 | UCV FC | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 20 |
  | 7 | Policía de Lara | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 19 |
  | 8 | Caracas FC B | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 19 |
  | 9 | Atlético Varyná | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 18 |
  | 10 | Yaracuyanos FC | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
  | 11 | Unión Lara | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 17 |
  | 12 | Hermandad Gallega | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -7 | 11 |
  | 13 | Atlético Piar FC | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 27 | -10 | 11 |
  | 14 | UNEFA FC | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 27 | -9 | 13 |
  | 15 | UCLA FC | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 28 | -17 | 6 |
  
  Last updated: 26 May 2009 Source: FVF Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ### Aggregate Table
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Centro Italo Venezolano | 29 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 52 | 28 | +34 | 64 | Primera División 2009-10 |
  | 2 | Real Esppor $Club^1$ | 29 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 57 | 28 | +29 | 63 | Primera División 2009-10 |
  | 3 | Trujillanos $FC^3$ | 29 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 55 | 30 | +25 | 60 | Primera División 2009-10 |
  | 4 | Unión Atlético $Trujillo^1$ | 29 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 55 | 34 | +21 | 60 |
  | 5 | Policía de Lara | 29 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 43 |
  | 6 | Deportivo Barinas | 29 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 49 | 39 | +10 | 41 |
  | 7 | Caracas FC B | 29 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 40 | 37 | +3 | 40 |
  | 8 | UCV FC | 29 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 40 |
  | 9 | Yaracuyanos $FC^2$ | 29 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 36 | Primera División 2009-10 |
  | 10 | Unión Lara | 29 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 39 | 49 | -10 | 35 |
  | 11 | Atlético Varyná | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 39 | -4 | 34 |
  | 12 | Hermandad Gallega | 29 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 38 | 46 | -8 | 32 |
  | 13 | Atlético Piar FC | 29 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 28 | 52 | -24 | 25 |
  | 14 | UNEFA FC | 29 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 27 | 47 | -20 | 23 |
  | 15 | Baralt FC | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 15 | Segunda División B 2009-10 |
  | 16 | UCLA FC | 29 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 18 | 67 | -49 | 11 | Segunda División B 2009-10 |
  
  Last updated: 26 May 2009 Source: FVF $^1Although$ the Union Atlético Trujillo qualified to the First Division, were not inscribed due to the merger with Real Esspor. $^2Yaracuyanos$ FC bought UA Maracaibo spot. $^3Trujillanos$ FC promoted. Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ## Segunda División B
  
  ### Grupo Centro Oriental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Minasoro FC | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 32 |
  | 2 | Fundación Cesarger | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 28 |
  | 3 | Tucanes de Amazonas | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 20 |
  | 4 | Atlético Orinoco | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 20 |
  | 5 | Academia San José | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 17 |
  | 6 | Carabobo FC B | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 19 | -4 | 15 |
  | 7 | Marineros Margarita | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 12 |
  | 8 | UCV Aragua | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 28 | -17 | 9 |
  
  ### Grupo Centro Occidental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | U.A. San Antonio | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 15 | +20 | 29 |
  | 2 | Deportivo Táchira B | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 27 |
  | 3 | Atlético Cojedes | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 21 | +7 | 25 |
  | 4 | Atlético Córdova | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 23 |
  | 5 | U.A. Lagunillas | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 22 | +1 | 18 |
  | 6 | Academia Emeritense | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 16 |
  | 7 | Santa Barbara FC | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 30 | -9 | 13 |
  | 8 | Atlético Falcón | 14 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 51 | -45 | 1 |
  
  Last updated: 14 December 2008 Source: FVF Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ### Promotion playoff
  
  Minasoro FC and U.A. San Antonio finished the tournament as champions of the Apertura: Grupo Centro Oriental and Grupo Centro Occidental respectively, because of this they have to play a promotion playoff.
  
  ### Grupo Centro Oriental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Fundación Cesarger | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 12 | +23 | 35 |
  | 2 | Atlético Orinoco | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 12 | +17 | 30 |
  | 3 | Marineros Margarita | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 25 |
  | 4 | Carabobo FC B | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 19 |
  | 5 | Tucanes de Amazonas | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 18 |
  | 6 | Minasoro FC | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 16 |
  | 7 | Academia San José | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 11 |
  | 8 | UCV Aragua | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 35 | -27 | 4 |
  
  ### Grupo Centro Occidental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | U.A. San Antonio | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 30 |
  | 2 | Deportivo Táchira B | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 27 |
  | 3 | Atlético Córdova | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 20 |
  | 4 | Academia Emeritense | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 15 |
  | 5 | U.A. Lagunillas | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 12 |
  | 6 | Atlético Cojedes | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 9 |
  | 7 | Santa Bárbara FC | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 35 | -22 | 6 |
  
  Last updated: 10 May 2009 Source: FVF Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ### Promotion playoff
  
  Fundación Cesarger and U.A. San Antonio finished the tournament as champions of the Clausura: Grupo Centro Oriental and Grupo Centro Occidental respectively, because of this they have to play a promotion playoff.
  
  ### Grupo Centro Oriental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Fundación Cesarger | 28 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 59 | 26 | +33 | 63 | Segunda División 2009-10 |
  | 2 | Atlético Orinoco | 28 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 50 | 32 | +18 | 50 |
  | 3 | Minasoro FC | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 49 | 27 | +22 | 48 |
  | 4 | Tucanes de Amazonas | 28 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 36 | -7 | 38 |
  | 5 | Marineros Margarita | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 37 |
  | 6 | Carabobo FC B | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 31 | 43 | -12 | 34 |
  | 7 | Academia San José | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 30 | 41 | -11 | 28 | Tercera División 2009-10 |
  | 8 | UCV Aragua | 28 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 63 | -44 | 13 | Tercera División 2009-10 |
  
  ### Grupo Centro Occidental
  
  | P | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | U.A. San Antonio | 26 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 57 | 24 | +33 | 59 | Segunda División 2009-10 |
  | 2 | Deportivo Táchira B | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 70 | 40 | +30 | 54 |
  | 3 | Atlético Córdova | 26 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 43 |
  | 4 | Atlético Cojedes | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 34 |
  | 5 | Academia Emeritense | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 31 |
  | 6 | U.A. Lagunillas | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 30 |
  | 7 | Santa Bárbara FC | 26 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 34 | 65 | -31 | 19 | Tercera División 2009-10 |
  | 8 | Atlético Falcón | 14 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 51 | -45 | 1 | Tercera División 2009-10 |
  
  Last updated: 10 May 2009 Source: FVF Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored. P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.
  
  ## Venezuela national team
  
  This section will cover Venezuela's games from August 19, 2008 until June 27, 2009.
  
  | Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Comp | Venezuela scorers | Match Report(s) |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | August 19, 2008 | Olímpico Luis Ramos Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Syria | 4 - 1 | F | L. Vielma 13' G. Maldonado 50' J. Rojas 53' (pen) A. Moreno 59' | FVF |
  | September 6, 2008 | Estadio Monumental "U" Lima, Peru | Peru | 1 - 0 | WCQ2010 | | CONMEBOL |
  | September 9, 2008 | Defensores del Chaco Asunción, Paraguay | Paraguay | 2 - 0 | WCQ2010 | | CONMEBOL |
  | October 11, 2008 | Pueblo Nuevo San Cristóbal, Venezuela | Brazil | 0 - 4 | WCQ2010 | | CONMEBOL |
  | October 15, 2008 | Olímpico Luis Ramos Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Ecuador | 3 - 1 | WCQ2010 | G. Maldonado 47' A. Moreno 56' J. Arango 67' | CONMEBOL |
  | November 19, 2008 | Estadio La Carolina Barinas, Venezuela | Angola | 0 - 0 | F | | FVF |
  | February 11, 2009 | Estadio Monumental de Maturín Maturín, Venezuela | Guatemala | 2 - 1 | F | G. Maldonado 64' J.S. Rondón 89' | FVF |
  | March 28, 2009 | Estadio Monumental Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 4 - 0 | WCQ2010 | | CONMEBOL |
  | March 31, 2009 | Polideportivo Cachamay Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela | Colombia | 2 - 0 | WCQ2010 | Miku 78' J. Arango 82' | CONMEBOL |
  | May 13, 2009 | Estadio José Pachencho Romero Maracaibo, Venezuela | Costa Rica | 1 - 1 | F | J.M. Velásquez 25' | FVF |
  | June 6, 2009 | Estadio Hernando Siles La Paz, Bolivia | Bolivia | 0 - 1 | WCQ2010 | Rivero 33' (o.g.) | CONMEBOL |
  | June 10, 2009 | Polideportivo Cachamay Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela | Uruguay | 2 – 2 | WCQ2010 | G. Maldonado 9' J.M. Rey 75' | FIFA |
  | June 24, 2009 | Georgia Dome Atlanta, United States | Mexico | 4 – 0 | F | | FVF |
  | June 27, 2009 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá San José, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 1 – 0 | F | | FVF |
  
  KEY:
  
     * F = Friendly match
     * WCQ2010 = 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
  