Argentina 3-0 Bolivia: Match report result 2016 Copa América, Group D
Argentina dispatched Bolivia with relative ease and now face Venezuela in the quarter final. Messi played for the second half and came close from a direct free kick.
Match report: Argentina 3-0 Bolivia
Rarely will an Argentina team have such an easy ride in the Copa America. An 82% vs.18% statistic is revealing in showcasing the complete domination that Tata Martino's displayed against a Bolivia side who failed to manage a clear cut scoring occasion and who finish Group D on 0 points.
Argentina had the game wrapped up within 15 minutes after slack defending allowed Lamela and Lavezzi to put the Albiceleste ahead. Independiente defender Cuesta latched onto a Lavezzi cross shot just after the half hour mark and Argentina's thoughts turned to their quarter final game against Venezuela.
Despite Martino promising that Messi would start the game, the Barcelona striker was brought on at the start of the second period much to the delight of the Seattle crowd. The player from Rosario came closest to scoring with a rasping left footed free kick that drifted inches wide of the Bolivian goal. Bolivia showed more defensive solidity in the second period but it's Argentina who march on in Copa America Centenario as they travel to Boston to face "El Vinotinto" on June 18.
Here's how it happened:
FT: Argentina 3-0 Bolivia
All over in Seattle.
Min 92: Cuesta carded for a pull on Crespos.
2 minutes of added time to be played.
Min 89: Argentina almost thread their way through a much better Bolivian defense this half but the blows up for a push by Aguero.
Min 88: Melean booked for a lunge on Lamela
Min 85: Carmelo Algarañaz set to make an entrance for Bolivia with Smedberg the player making way.
Min 80: Messi is caught by Campos and the Bolivian no.10 gets carded for his troubles. Touch of friction between both players with an unpleasant squaring up and pushing before the Peruvian match official intervenes.
Min 77: The offside flag was up but Messi showed amazing skill in a nutmeg on the Bolivian goalkeeper Lampe.
Min 75: Change for Argentina as Otamendi is replaced by Jonatan Ramon Maidana.
Min 74: Despite the comfortable score line, Argentina finding it more difficult to penetrate the green wall of Bolivian shirts in this second half.
Min 70: Tata Martino's thoughts must now be turning to Argentina's quarter final game against Venezuela (assuming Bolivia don't score seven goals in the remaining 20 minutes). The game and crowd having lost their earlier tension which was briefly reignited by the introduction of Messi.
Min 65: Jhasmany Campos finds himself alone in the Argentina half with no help and is forced to concede possession. Argentina with an incredible 83% possession level in Seattle tonight.
Min 61: Incredible hit from Argentina's no. 10. The ball just failed to turn at the opportune moment. Great strike and almost the fourth for Martino's side.
Min 60: Aguero pulled down near the edge of the area which affords a great chance for a Messi left footed free kick.
Min 57: A rare foray forward from Bolivia which sees a Campos shot fizzle across the face of the Argentina goal. Possibly the best chance for the men in green so far tonight.
Min 55: Great long range drive from Bilglia that forces Carlos Lampe in the Bolivia goal to palm away. Argentina in control as per the first period.
Min 52: A shrill of expectation rings out in CenturyLink Field every time Messi gets the ball.
Min 50: Messi lines up a free kick after a foul on Lavezzi. Long way out for the No. 10 who sees his kick headed clear.
Other changes at the break: for Argentina, Bilglia on for Banega with Bolivia swapping Arce for Cristhian Machado.
Min 46: We're under way again in Seattle with Messi on for Higuain.
Half Time Analysis:
Far, far too easy for an Argentina side who started without Leo Messi in Seattle this evening. Three goals from inside the Bolivian six yard box suggest the ease in which Tata Martino's side have been facilitated by Bolivia. A 81%-19% possession rate for the Argentine side paints a very real picture of how Bolivia have been totally dominated by the Albiceleste.
Half Time
Lamela, Lavezzi and Cuesta put Argentina three goals ahead in Seattle against a very average Bolivia side.
Min 45: Higuain manages to get a left footed shot on target. Too easy for the Napoli player to generate space and shoot. 1 minute of added time to be played.
Min 43: Kranevitter's passing rate so far this evening: 100%
Min 38: The majority of the sky blue and white clad crowd begin a Mexican wave in Seattle. Bolivia have been very very poor tonight.
All three goals for Argentina have been scored inside the Bolivian six yard area. Worrying for the rear guard in green.
Argentina 3-0 Bolivia
Cuesta gets a touch following dangerous cross-shot from Lavezzi.
Min 33: Goooooooooooool, Argentina strike again.
Min 31: Another close up of Messi, that's three so far in the first period. Curiously Tata Martino (Argentina head coach) stated that the Barça player would start in yesterday's press conference.
Min 30: Argentina dominating in terms of possession: Arg 76% vs. 24% Bol.
Min 27: Argentina in total control as Arce tries his luck from long distance. Banega booked for a trip on the Bolivian player.
Min 24: Change for Bolivia as Duk is replaced by No. 4 Diego Bejarano Ibanez
Min 20: Play held up as Duk being attended to by the Bolivian medics with a bloody nose following an ariel collision.
Argentina 2-0 Bolivia
Barely time for Bolivia to draw breath from the opening goal and this time Lavezzi latches onto a loose ball in the area to fire home from close range. A long evening in Seattle awaits the men in green.
Min 15: Goooooool, Argentina go two ahead
Argentina 1-0 Bolivia
Min 13: Gooooool, Argentina go ahead as Lamela's free kick hits Duk in the Bolivia wall and ricochets into the back of the net.
Min 12: The referee has seen enough and books Zenteno for a late challenge on Lavezzi.
Min 11: Argentina's Cuesta scythes into Arce and was lucky to escape a yellow card. no prisoners being taken with rugged tackling from both sides in this early phase.
Min 9: Leo Messi watches pensively from the Argentina bench. The first of many close up shots of the Barça No.10 we'll see tonight.
Min 7: Lavezzi hacked by Duk just as Argentina start to move the ball around with authority. Banega to take the resulting free-kick which comes to nothing.
Min 4: First chance for Bolivia as the ball spins about the Argentina box following a free kick but comes to nothing.
Min 1: Off we go in Seattle, Argentina to kick-off.
Argentina in their classic sky blue and white striped shirts with black shorts, Bolivia in all green for tonight's game.
Weather: 12C currently in the capital of Washington state with a light south wind, perfect playing conditions as the national anthems ring out in Seattle.
Both teams take to the CenturyLink Field pitch in Seattle for the last game in the group phase in the Copa America. Messi on the bench and only a defeat by 4 goals or more can topple Argentina from top spot in the group.
Team News
Argentina: Romero; Roncaglia, Otamendi, Cuesta, Funes Mori; Kranevitter, Banega; Lavezzi, Agüero, Lamela and Higuaín
Bolivia: Lampe, Saaverdra, Guiterrez, Cabrera, Arce, Smedberg-Dalence, Duk, Campos, Melean, Azogue and Zenteno.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Copa Améríca game between Argentina - Bolivia, the teams' third and final match in Group D. Argentina play Bolivia on Wednesday, 15 June 2016 at 04:00 Central European Time, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Tuesday 14 June at 7pm local time in Seattle. Find the kick-off time where you are).
Preview Argentina - Bolivia
Argentina face Bolivia in their final group match at the Copa América Centenary tournament being held in the USA, hoping to ensure first place in Group D.
The team led by Leo Messi, and his beard, come into the game on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Panama, with three goals from the Barça legend, who will start for the first time in the tournament, alongside Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín in attack.
Bolivia were on the point of nicking a draw against Chile in their previous game, but having been beaten there (in the 99th minute) the most they can hope for is to leave the States with their heads held high picking up something here.
Argentina are firm favourites though to finish with a perfect record in the group and face Venezuela in the quarter-finals, who finished second in Group C.