Academia Puerto Cabello produced a convincing 3-1 victory over Rayo Zuliano in their Venezuela Cup match on Thursday, 22 October 2026, using a fast start and a composed second-half display to secure a result that keeps their cup campaign firmly on track. The hosts were the sharper side for long stretches, creating the better chances and answering Rayo Zuliano’s brief fightback with a late goal that settled the contest.

Match overview

Academia Puerto Cabello began with clear attacking intent, pressing high and forcing Rayo Zuliano into rushed clearances. The home side’s midfield kept the ball moving quickly, while the forward line looked to attack the space behind the visitors’ full-backs. That approach brought the opening goal in the 14th minute, when Diego Salazar arrived late in the box to finish a flowing move and give Academia Puerto Cabello an early advantage.

Rayo Zuliano tried to settle into the game after conceding, but the hosts maintained control of the tempo and doubled their lead six minutes before half-time. Manuel Arteaga found space between the centre-backs and converted with a low finish, giving Academia Puerto Cabello a 2-0 cushion at the break. Rayo Zuliano improved after the interval and pulled one back through Kevin Ochoa in the 61st minute, but the home side managed the game well and sealed the win when Alejandro Quintero scored in the 82nd minute.

Key moments

• 14’ — Diego Salazar opens the scoring: A quick attacking sequence ended with Salazar arriving at the edge of the area to give Academia Puerto Cabello the lead.
• 39’ — Manuel Arteaga doubles the advantage: Arteaga exploited a gap in the Rayo Zuliano defence and finished calmly to make it 2-0 before half-time.
• 61’ — Kevin Ochoa pulls one back: Rayo Zuliano’s best spell of the match produced a goal when Ochoa converted from inside the box.
• 82’ — Alejandro Quintero seals the result: With Rayo Zuliano pushing forward, Academia Puerto Cabello found space on the counter and Quintero made it 3-1.

Tactical story

Academia Puerto Cabello’s 4-2-3-1 shape worked well throughout, especially in the first half. The two holding midfielders protected the back line, while the attacking midfielders drifted into pockets of space and linked play with the striker. The hosts also used their full-backs aggressively, stretching Rayo Zuliano and creating overloads in wide areas. That width was central to their early dominance and helped them build a two-goal lead.

Rayo Zuliano started in a compact 4-4-2 block and tried to deny space in central areas, but they struggled to close down Academia Puerto Cabello’s midfield runners. After the break, the visitors pushed higher and found more success through direct attacks and set pieces. Their goal changed the mood of the match, but it also left gaps at the back. Academia Puerto Cabello stayed patient, defended with discipline and used the space to finish the game late on.

Standout players

Diego Salazar was influential in midfield, setting the tone with his movement and capped his performance with the opening goal. Manuel Arteaga’s first-half strike proved decisive, while Alejandro Quintero’s late goal underlined Academia Puerto Cabello’s ability to punish opponents on the break. For Rayo Zuliano, Kevin Ochoa was the brightest attacking outlet and his goal briefly gave the visitors hope. Rayo’s goalkeeper also made important saves to keep the margin manageable, even though the team ultimately could not recover.

What the result means

The 3-1 win gives Academia Puerto Cabello momentum in the Venezuela Cup and reinforces their reputation as a difficult team to beat on home soil. The result also provides a confidence boost ahead of their next fixtures, with the team showing both attacking quality and game-management skills. For Rayo Zuliano, the focus will be on tightening their defensive transitions and turning their improved second-half spell into a more complete performance. In cup football, defeats like this can be costly, but the visitors can take encouragement from the way they responded after falling two goals behind.