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Argentina shrugs off lacklustre form to wallop Bolivia
Buenos Aires, Nov 17: Argentina beat Bolivia 3-0 in World Cup qualifier. Argentina came to life in the second half as they finally broke down a stubborn Bolivian defence for a 3-0 win in their World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires on Saturday (November 15).
Buenos Aires, Nov 17: Argentina beat Bolivia 3-0 in World Cup qualifier. Argentina came to life in the second half as they finally broke down a stubborn Bolivian defence for a 3-0 win in their World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires on Saturday (November 15).
After 57 minutes of frustration, Argentina embarked on a 13-minute three-goal spell with Andres D'Alessandro, Hernan Crespo and Pablo Aimar all finding the net to earn the hosts three precious points on a wet, windy night at the River Plate stadium.
Bolivia began brightly and in the third minute only a fine tackle by Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez on Miguel Mercado prevented the vistors from taking the lead.
Argentina, missing midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron through suspension, dominated after that without ever looking convincing.
Mexican-based Cesar Delgado, the only player in the Argentine team not at a European club, forced two good saves from goalkeeper Leonel Fernandez in the 24th and 39th minutes.
The game continued in the same pattern after the break. D'Alessandro finally made the breakthrough 12 minutes into the second half when he was fouled on the edge of the area, took the kick himself and curled in a shot which Fernandez could only push into his own net.
Chelsea striker Crespo added the second five minutes later -- his second in successive internationals -- as he sneaked between two defenders to volley home a cross from Pablo Aimar.
In the 70th minute, Aimar completed the scoring when he cleverly backheeled the ball into the net after Javier Zanetti had broken down the right.
Argentina, who travel to Colombia for their next game on Wednesday (November 19), have seven points from their first three matches in the 2006 qualifiers while Bolivia, who have shipped eight goals and scored none in two away matches, have three.
Teams: Argentina - 1-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Facundo Quiroga, 2-Roberto Ayala, 6-Walter Samuel; 8-Javier Zanetti, 5-Matias Almeyda (14-Esteban Cambiasso, 90), 18-Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez; 15-Andres D'Alessandro (3-Juan Pablo Sorin, 85), 16-Pablo Aimar; 9-Hernan Crespo (7-Javier Saviola, 80), 19-Cesar Delgado
Bolivia - 1-Leonel Fernandez; 16-Ronald Raldes, 5-Oscar Sanchez, 2-Juan Carlos Paz Garcia, 4-Alvaro Ricaldi; 17-Luis Gatti Ribeiro, 6-Raul Justiniano, 14-Luis Reyes, 11-Roger Suarez (10-Marco Etcheverry, 70); 20-Joaquin Botero (18-Jose Castillo, 46), 19-Miguel Mercado (9-Limberg Mendez, 46) Referee - Gilberto Hidalgo (Peru)
Collated results of South American World Cup qualifying matches: Paraguay 2 Ecuador 1 Colombia 0 Venezuela 1 Uruguay 2 Chile 0 Argentina 3 Bolivia 0
Playing Sunday November 16: Peru v Brazil
Standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Argentina 3 2 1 0 8 2 7 2. Uruguay 3 2 0 1 8 5 6 3. Brazil 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 4. Paraguay 3 2 0 1 7 6 6 5. Chile 3 1 1 1 5 5 4 6. Peru 2 1 0 1 5 3 3 7. Ecuador 3 1 0 2 3 3 3 8. Bolivia 3 1 0 2 4 8 3 9. Venezuela 3 1 0 2 1 5 3 10. Colombia 3 0 0 3 1 7 0
Top four teams qualify directly for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The fifth team plays off for another place.
Bureau Report
The game continued in the same pattern after the break. D'Alessandro finally made the breakthrough 12 minutes into the second half when he was fouled on the edge of the area, took the kick himself and curled in a shot which Fernandez could only push into his own net.
Chelsea striker Crespo added the second five minutes later -- his second in successive internationals -- as he sneaked between two defenders to volley home a cross from Pablo Aimar.
In the 70th minute, Aimar completed the scoring when he cleverly backheeled the ball into the net after Javier Zanetti had broken down the right.
Argentina, who travel to Colombia for their next game on Wednesday (November 19), have seven points from their first three matches in the 2006 qualifiers while Bolivia, who have shipped eight goals and scored none in two away matches, have three.
Teams: Argentina - 1-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Facundo Quiroga, 2-Roberto Ayala, 6-Walter Samuel; 8-Javier Zanetti, 5-Matias Almeyda (14-Esteban Cambiasso, 90), 18-Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez; 15-Andres D'Alessandro (3-Juan Pablo Sorin, 85), 16-Pablo Aimar; 9-Hernan Crespo (7-Javier Saviola, 80), 19-Cesar Delgado
Bolivia - 1-Leonel Fernandez; 16-Ronald Raldes, 5-Oscar Sanchez, 2-Juan Carlos Paz Garcia, 4-Alvaro Ricaldi; 17-Luis Gatti Ribeiro, 6-Raul Justiniano, 14-Luis Reyes, 11-Roger Suarez (10-Marco Etcheverry, 70); 20-Joaquin Botero (18-Jose Castillo, 46), 19-Miguel Mercado (9-Limberg Mendez, 46) Referee - Gilberto Hidalgo (Peru)
Collated results of South American World Cup qualifying matches: Paraguay 2 Ecuador 1 Colombia 0 Venezuela 1 Uruguay 2 Chile 0 Argentina 3 Bolivia 0
Playing Sunday November 16: Peru v Brazil
Standings: P W D L F A Pts 1. Argentina 3 2 1 0 8 2 7 2. Uruguay 3 2 0 1 8 5 6 3. Brazil 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 4. Paraguay 3 2 0 1 7 6 6 5. Chile 3 1 1 1 5 5 4 6. Peru 2 1 0 1 5 3 3 7. Ecuador 3 1 0 2 3 3 3 8. Bolivia 3 1 0 2 4 8 3 9. Venezuela 3 1 0 2 1 5 3 10. Colombia 3 0 0 3 1 7 0
Top four teams qualify directly for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The fifth team plays off for another place.
Bureau Report