Bolivia 2-0 Argentina: match report, how it happened, goals
Bolivia secured a famous win in the Estadio Hernando Siles with a goal in either half to see off a disappointing Argentina sideArgentina - Nigeria
Bolivia 2-0 Argentina: report and how it happened
It never rains but it pours and the torrential rain that greeted the Argentine delegation in La Paz ahead of tonight's World Cup 2018 qualifier was a precursor of the torrid evening that lay in store for Edgardo Bauza's side.
Much has been said and written about the infamous altitude problem of playing in La Paz and just as it seemed that the Albiceleste had managed to acclimatise to conditions a sucker punch from Juan Carlos Arce on the half hour mark saw Argentina fall behind with the player from local club Bolivar headed expertly home from an exquisite Pablo Escobar delivery.
Bauza's woes grow
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as Everton defender was Funes Mori was stretchered from the pitch with a worrying injury to compound Bauza's woes which earlier started earlier in the day with the news that star striker and captain Leo Messi was served with a four match FIFA ban.
Would the mercurial Barcelona striker have made any difference to the outcome of the La Paz contest is something we will now never know but once Moreno rocketed home the second Bolivian goal of the night shortly after the restart the writing was on the wall for the Albiceleste who failed to really trouble Lampe in the Bolivia goal.
With other results in the CONMEBOL group going against Argentina tonight's La Paz defeat is a major setback in Bauza's aspiration of an automatic ticket to Russia.
Bolivia 2-0 Argentina: full time
Min 93 | That's it , 3 minutes of added time as Mr. Roldan calls time and Bolivia secure a famous win over a poor Argentina.
Min 92 | Moreno the player who makes way for Miranda
Min 90 | Into added time as Bolivia make their final change. Miranda to take to the pitch
Min 88 | "Chuma Chuma" chant the local fans aimed at the Bolivian No. 3
Min 87 | What difference would Messi have made ?
Min 86 | There were some rumours circulating earlier in the Argentine media that a defeat in La Paz could spell the end of Bauza's reign as Argentina boss ....
Min 82 | Change for Bolivia: Campos set to make an entrance. Wayar the player to make way
Min 80 | Ten to go in La Paz ! Argentina on the ropes...
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Min 78 | Argentina getting closer as Aguero fires across a teasing ball that just needed a touch from Pratto.
Min 75 | Pratto misses the target with a free header when it seemed easier to nod home. Bad miss from the Sao Paolo striker.
Min 73 | Change for Bolivia as Arce makes way for Justiniano.
Min 72 | Less than 20 minutes left in La Paz. Can "La Albiceleste" find a way back....
Min 70 | Excellent shot on target from Enzo Perez who forces a reflex stop from the Bolivian keeper.
Min 69 | Bolivia maintain domination in the possession stakes: 54%-46%
Min 68 | Waywar booked for Bolivia
Min 67 | Bolivia almost make it three as Martins sees his goal bound saved.
Min 62 | Pratto gets a shot on target but directed straight at Lampe.
Min 60 | Dangerous free-kick awarded to Argentina on the edge of the area. Banega to take again...floated kick but is easily dealt with by the men in green.
Min 58 | Incredible to see the flight of the ball through the La Paz altitude. Especially prevalent in goal kicks!
Min 56 | Aguero on for Correa (who has been poor)
Min 54 | Fine assist from Flores who did well robbing the Argentine right back, slots the ball through to Moreno who blasts the ball into the roof of Romero's net.
Min 53 | Moreno fires another Bolivian in....gol gol gol !!!!
Min 51 | Bauza looking anxious on the Argentina bench.
Min 48 | Argentina opting for long ranges shots hoping but rarely troubling Lampe in the Bolivia goal.
Min 46 | Argentina finally make their way back onto the Hernando Siles pitch as the local fans pass around a massive red, yellow and green Bolivian flag.
Min 46 | All set in La Paz for the second period.
Half time round-up:
Much has been said about the effect of the La Paz altitude and the way it can hamper visiting players in games held in the Bolivian capital. Argentina certainly started like a team lacking the requisite O2 in the tank as they were outplayed by the home side for the first thirty minutes at the Hernando Siles stadium. Just as Bauza's side were starting to edge their way into the contest Juan Carlos Arce latched onto a fine Pablo Escobar delivery to head past Romero to put the home side ahead. Outplayed and outclassed by a side who have just won two of their qualifying games, an anxious 45' await "La Albiceleste".
Bolivia 1-0 Argentina: half time
Min 45 | Into stoppage time as Argentina are awarded a free kick in a dangerous area. Banega to take...fires over as Mister Roldan calls time on proceedings in La Paz.
Min 43 | No reply from Bauza's men to the Bolivian goal, just as the visitors seem to have woken up from their opening spell of lethargy Arce struck.
Min 40 | First card of the day goes to Ever Banega for a crude trip on Arce.
Min 37 | Not a great day for Argentina: Messi banned, Funes Mori taken off with what looks like a serious injury and trailing one-nil in La Paz !
Min 34 | Funes Mori stretchered off as Caruzzo takes the Everton players place.
Min 33 | Fine delivery from Pablo Escobar as he finds the No. 7 out-marked but an astute backwards header from the Bolivar player beats Romero to send the La Paz crowd into raptures.
Min 32 | Gol Gol Gol ....Arce puts the home side ahead !
Min 30 | Correa slices the Boliva defensive line open and feeds Di Maria who finds himself one on one with Lampe but the PSG player tries to lob the keeper and sees his shot palmed away.
Min 28 | The sun comes out in La Paz as slowly but surely Argentina start to edge their way into the contest.
Min 26 | Long range snap-shot from Di Maria but the PSG player can just watch his shot drift wide as Banega tests Lampe forcing him to tip over.
Min 24 | Arce fires a shot on target but easily gathered by Man United's Romero in the Argentina goal.
Min 22 | The saving grace for Argentina is their ability to strike on the break with Di Maria looking explosive.
Min 20 | Chumacero at the heart of all the Bolivian build-up.
Min 17 | A long range effort for Bolivia (Sergio Romero) is well pushed away by his namesake in the Argentina goal.
Min 16 | The possession statistic is a fair reflection on what we've seen with the home side full of zip and the visitors looking uncomfortable.
Min 15 | Possession stat: Bolivia 71% v 29% Argentina
Min 13 | Argentina have opted for the dark blue shorts option too tonight rather than the traditional black !
Min 12 | A rather bizarre ball in use tonight in La Paz. A sort of silver match-ball with orange "trimming". A FIFA approved ball ?
Min 9 | Argentina struggling to establish control in La Paz as the Bolivian right and left wingers fire cross after cross in to the area aiming for Moreno.
Min 5 | Bright start from the home side with a blistering header from Moreno fizzing wide.
Min 1 | Bolivia in their classic green whilst the visitors in their iconic sky and white striped shirts.
Min 1| Off we go in La Paz.
Bolivia vs Argentina live: latest news
21:59 | Team reminder ahead of ko
Bolivia starting XI: Lampe, Chumachero, Arce, Bejarano, Martins, Castro, Raldes, Wayar, Flores, Escobar, Zenteno
Argentina starting XI: Romero, Roncaglia, Musacchio, Funes Mori, Rojo, Perez, Banega, Pizarro, Di Maria, Pratto, Correa.
21:57 | Not quite a full house at the 42.000 capacity Hernando Siles stadium this evening. A rough calculation would suggest 30-35.000
21:55 | Mister Wilmar of Colombia is our match official this evening at the Estadio Hernando Siles (La Paz).
21:45 | Five of the Bolivian starting XI play for local outfit The Strongest who currently lie sixth in the Bolivian top flight.
21:40 | In case you've been busy today, the earlier bombshell news was the FIFA ban handed out to Leo Messi for "verbals" aimed at the linesman in the Friday game last week against Chile.
21:38 | With no Messi for Argentina, Bauza opts for a Sao Paolo / Atletico Madrid strike force in the shape of Pratto and Correa.
21:35 | A wet afternoon in store in La Paz with rain expected in the Bolivian capital throughout the match. Currently a mild 14C in the Hernando Siles stadium.
21:20 | The famous La Paz altitude has been often cited as a major advantage for Bolivia, but just why? Here's a fine explanation of the disadvantage for visiting teams of playing in La Paz.
Team News
Bolivia starting XI: Lampe, Chumachero, Arce, Bejarano, Martins, Castro, Raldes, Wayar, Flores, Escobar, Zenteno
Argentina starting XI: Romero, Roncaglia, Musacchio, Funes Mori, Rojo, Perez, Banega, Pizarro, Di Maria, Pratto, Correa.
20:38 | Last time Argentina played Bolivia away it ended 1-1 by on the previous occasion the locals delivered the "Albiceleste" (managed by Maradona) a historic 6-1 spanking.
19:50 | In the 10 team COMNEBOL group, the top 4 get a ticket to Russia 2018 with the 5th place team entering a play-off against the winners of Oceania.
19:15 | Here's how the COMNEBOL group looks ahead of the 14th round of qualifying games.
18:45 | Argentina have confirmed that they'll seek to have Messi's suspension reduced.
17:40 | Here's the lowdown on the Argentina games that Messi is going to miss...
16:40 | The major pre-match news has just come in: Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been banned for four matches for a foul-mouthed tirade against an assistant referee in the Albiceleste's win over Chile on Thursday.
16:38 | Afternoon! Stay with us for all the latest build-up ahead of Bolivia vs Argentina!
Bolivia vs Argentina: match preview
Bolivia welcome Argentina to La Paz as the COMNEBOL qualifying stage for next year's Russia World Cup enters the final stages.
The Estadio Hernando Siles in the Bolivian capital La Paz is the setting for the match (kick off 22:00 CEST) with the "Albiceleste" looking to maintain their rich vein of form after three consecutive wins which have seen them move into third place in the ten team group.
The infamous Bolivian altitude will, once again be the greatest ally for the home side who cling to the slightest remote outside hope of stringing together a series of wins that could see them put in late shout for a qualifying place.
Bolivia
Bolivia come into the game following a (1-0) defeat to Colombia who wore forced to rely on a late and disputed penalty to secure maximum points. Angel Hoyos, head coach for "Los Verdes" will be encouraged by his sides performance and will hope that the home crowd and altitude play their respective roles in making life difficult for Messi and Co.
The last time both sides came face to face was last year during the Copa America Centenario where Argentina were too strong for Bolivia in Seattle with goals from Lamela, Lavezzi and Cuesta sweeping away the Bolivian resistance.
Argentina
Argentina have finally gotten their groove back after an indifferent start to the Russia World Cup qualifying campaign and have managed to string together three consecutive wins to ease themselves into third place in the COMNEBOL qualification group of ten nations.
Bauza's side weren't entirely convincing against Chile on Friday and it took a spot kick from Barcelona striker Lionel Messi to secure maximum points for the home side at River Plate's ground in Buenos Aires.
Argentina have been badly hit via suspensions with Mascherano, Higuaín, Otamendi and Biglia all missing the trip to La Paz. Coach Bauza must also do without the injured Mercado and Emmanuel Mas.
Bolivia vs Argentina: live stream betting odds
Form book: Bolivia have just managed one win from their last ten games, recording 8 defeats and just one draw.
Argentina are back on track to qualify for Russia 2018 with five wins from their past ten games.
Can the dreaded altitude in La Paz play a role in helping the home side to a surprise victory?
A win for "Los Verdes" from Bolivia pays out at 5/1.
Bet on Bolivia v Argentina now