cColombia suffered less than expected in El Alto, but left its undefeated record in the tie with a specific error that ruined correct work to counteract Bolivia and the effects of the 4,100 meters of altitude. The 1-0 is a setback that, although it does not complicate the chances of qualifying for the World Cup, it does leave a bitter taste.
According to the criteria of
Néstor Lorenzo’s team, playing more than 70 minutes with one more, tried in every way and made goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra figure. He lacked aim to have saved at least one point.
From the scoresheet there were surprises. Finally, a kind of ‘height team’ was created. There were names in the spotlight, like Cristian Borja, but others that were not in anyone’s predictions, like Willer Ditta or Roger Martínez.
The game, as expected, was an ordeal for Colombia at the start, while they took the shot at the ball and while Bolivia went on top of them to try to get a quick advantage. And from the start there was a hero called Camilo Vargas, who withstood the downpour and scored six goals, five of them in the opening 20 minutes.
The expulsion that could have changed the game
But then, Héctor Cuéllar knocked down Roger Martínez when he was heading towards the local goal and Bolivia was left with one less player. And the meeting was different from that moment. Colombia had greater freedom to take the ball and began to arrive. Jhon Córdoba, who had to come on for Roger, missed two clear ones, and Luis Díaz almost sent Colombia to the break with the score at 0-1, but a saving hand from Viscarra prevented it.
The game was played in slow motion at the beginning of the second stage and Ríchard Ríos, who came on for Mateus Uribe, had hit the post when Bolivia took advantage of a lack of concentration by Colombia to go ahead. at 13 minutes: from an erratic pass by Willer Ditta a side came out that Cristian Borja did not mark and Miguel Terceros took advantage to gain meters, make two hooks and hang the ball at an angle.
The reaction of the Colombian bench was immediate: Yaser Asprilla and Jéfferson Lerma entered for Jhon Arias and Castaño and the game became a fronton, with the ball circulating around the Bolivian area. The locals completely forgot about the ball and took refuge in their field. Viscarra continued to get his hands where he could and Córdoba had the goal closed.
Lorenzo played one last card with the entry of Cucho Hernández, absolute debutant in the tie, instead of Luis Díaz who came out exhausted after trying in every way. And Colombia even claimed a handball by Luis Paz that existed, but that referee Wilton Sampaio did not consider as a penalty because it had first hit him on the thigh. And every time the team raised the ball, the Bolivian centre-backs rejected it.
Now, Colombia’s undefeated streak in the qualifying round is over. Suddenly he didn’t deserve to lose, but he paid dearly for his lack of aim.
Jose Orlando Ascencio
Sports Deputy Editor
@josasc
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