Bolivia reached FIFA World Cup for the first time since USA 1994

 Luis Suárez was a surprise omission in Óscar Tabárez’s travelling side, especially with his charges languishing outside the qualification spots for the first time this campaign, after a return of no wins in their last four matches. 

Their fortunes tanked once again just short of the half-hour mark, when Bolivia striker Arce picked up the ball on the left and swung a teasing ball into Martins. 

It evaded everyone including goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who fumbled the ball in off the post. 

 The Galatasaray keeper’s woes were heightened before the break, as a corner was given away needlessly when trying to play out from the back. 

Another right-footed delivery from Arce found Martins on this occasion, and his bullet header beat Muslera before he could even move. 

Suárez was introduced at HT, tasked with turning the tide for his compatriots, who had failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. 

It seemingly did the trick at first, with ‘La Celeste’ camped in their opponents’ half. 

 While they had a stern challenger in Suárez, Bolivia were still looking to threaten on the break, and did so to great effect when Carmelo Algaranaz was pulled over in the box after breaking through. 

Martins stepped up confidently, but blazed over high and wide after a stuttering run up. 

Algaranaz then saw red with fifteen minutes to play after a horror tackle, but an Arce header made it three-nil to finally seal the points in the 79th minute. 

 The altitudinal challenge of La Paz was clear for all to see once again, and Uruguay have now failed to win ten of their last eleven World Cup qualification trips to the city. 

Well-served by that oft-overlooked secret weapon, ‘La Verde’ are now just shy of 300 minutes without conceding a goal here, and will take huge confidence from this victory. 

Source:  FlashScore