{"id":31986,"date":"2017-03-29T07:16:27","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T07:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=31986"},"modified":"2017-03-29T07:16:27","modified_gmt":"2017-03-29T07:16:27","slug":"messi-less-argentina-crash-in-la-paz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=31986","title":{"rendered":"Messi-less Argentina crash in La Paz"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Members of the Bolivian national team celebrate on the field at the end of the World Cup qualifier against Argentina, which the home side won 2-0 in La Paz on March 29. Photo: Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sports desk: Argentina, weakened by the last-minute suspension of Lionel Messi, suffered a fourth defeat in their World Cup qualifying campaign as a spirited Bolivia won 2-0 in La Paz on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Bolivia scored either side of halftime through Juan Arce and Marcelo Martins and were deserved winners against an Argentina side who defended poorly throughout an exciting end-to-end encounter.<\/p>\n

The defeat left twice World Cup winners Argentina provisionally third on 22 points in the 10-team South American qualifying group, but with Chile, Ecuador and Colombia all within two points and with a game in hand.<\/p>\n

Argentina were already without suspended regulars Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia and Gonzalo Higuain and their task was made even tougher when captain Messi was handed a four-match ban for swearing at a match official hours before the game started .<\/p>\n

Bolivia appeared fired up by the decision and got the goal their early pressing deserved through Arce after 31 minutes.<\/p>\n

The skinny winger outmuscled Facundo Roncaglia on the penalty spot to head home a deep cross from Pablo Escobar on the right.<\/p>\n

Roncaglia was at fault again for the second goal seven minutes into the second half.<\/p>\n

The Celta Vigo defender failed to prevent Jorge Flores from escaping to the byline to cross for an unmarked Marcelo Martins.<\/p>\n

The big striker had all the time in the world to steady himself and hammer the ball past helpless Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.<\/p>\n

Argentina came into the game more when Sergio Aguero replaced Angel Correa 10 minutes into the second half but they could not get a goal and they are now likely to slip down the South American qualifying table.<\/p>\n

The top four teams qualify automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth-placed side goes into a playoff with a team from Oceania.<\/p>\n

Fourth-placed Colombia and Ecuador, in fifth, play later on Tuesday, while Chile, in sixth, face bottom side Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports desk: Argentina, weakened by the last-minute suspension of Lionel Messi, suffered a fourth defeat in their World Cup qualifying campaign as a spirited Bolivia won 2-0 in La Paz on Tuesday. Bolivia scored either side of halftime through Juan Arce and Marcelo Martins and were deserved winners against an Argentina side who defended poorly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":31987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n