Rafael Romo relieved MLS “nightmare” is in the past

The 2024 Copa América group stage is close to reaching its conclusion and Venezuela are well placed to book their place in the quarter finals. The Vinotinto top Group B after winning their opening game against Ecuador and will battle it out with Mexico for one of the two qualifying places later this evening.

Life couldn’t be much sweeter for goalkeeper Rafael Romo - he is and undisputed first choice with the national team and with his club Universidad Católica, who whom he made 22 appearances last year between the LigaPro Serie A and Copa Sudamericana. It’s a world away from the brief time he spent in Major League Soccer, which he admits was a living nightmare.

In April 2022, Romo was snapped up by DC United on a free transfer from Belgian club OH Leuven. After a promising start, things quickly started to go downhill for the Venezuelan. He kept a clean sheet on his debut, coming on for Bill Hamid in the 2-0 home win over the Houston Dynamo then just a few days later, the Red Bulls put three past him in the US Open Cup. But to be fair, much of that was down to some absolutely shambolic defending rather than being any fault of his.

Romo pays the price for sloppy defending at DC United

Romo made a total of 14 regular season appearances for DC United, 13 of them in the starting lineup. But the team won just three games when he was on the pitch and after conceding a total of 33 goals, he lost his place to David Ochoa.

His last game in the North American league could not have been more disastrous. DC United ended up being hammered 6-0 at home by the Philadelphia Union, but once again, there was little he could do. Horrendous defending didn’t help him - or his replacement, Ochoa, who had five put past him by Cincinnati. The ended the season having conceded 71 goals - just four goals from equaling the worst defensive figures for one season in MLS history.

“It wasn’t easy to come back. I had a nightmare season in the MLS, the most difficult of my career for many reasons” Romo recalled during Tuesday’s press conference ahead of Venezuela’s clash with Mexico.

Venezuela at 2024 Copa América

After an experience to forget in 2022, Romo left MLS to get his career back on track with Universidad Católica in Ecuador’s top flight. In December he signed a three-year contract extension with the club.

He is also Fernando Batista’s first option in goal for Venezuela. Tonight against Mexico he will gain his 22nd cap with the national team, who are hoping to go far at the Copa América and with any luck, improve on their best finish - fourth in 2011.

The winners of Group B will face the runners-up from Group A, which means that, if they qualify for the next round, Venezuela could face Argentina or Canada in the quarter finals. As things stand, the Vinotinto will aiming to secure top spot in their group and avoid a possible meeting with the reigning world champions in the quarter finals.