Challenge

Est Hernando Siles
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mario Fernandino started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Bolivia's Julio Chicote managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Santo Mercer in the 5 minute of the game. Mario Fernandino could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 6th minute of the match, but Renaldo David made a huge save. Dexter Snell's late challenge caught a Bolivia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dexter Snell helped the player get up and apologised. In the 8th minute, Dexter Snell hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. United States's Dexter Snell got a good chance for a goal in the 18th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dexter Snell in the 21st minute of play forced Bolivia's goalkeeper Camilo Freixa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of United States booed when Bolivia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 22 match minutes in a wonderful position. Francisco Gallo didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 24 minutes, Alejandro Villa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Bolivia and the United States players grew even worse after the yellow card. Bolivia:s Camilo Freixa showed great skill when he stopped Karl Fleming:s penalty. 25 minutes into the game, Karl Fleming cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Camilo Freixa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Karl Fleming during the 28th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 28th match minute, United States was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Karl Fleming to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes into the match, Alfonso de la Cruz dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Renaldo David, 1-1. Bolivia's Mario Fernandino got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Alfonso de la Cruz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Karl Fleming received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Camilo Freixa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mario Fernandino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Dexter Snell to make the kick off. Camilo Freixa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dexter Snell, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. Julio Chicote's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Renaldo David read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 59th minute of play. A collision led to Bolivia getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Eduardo Fontirroig hit a great ball. In the 66th minute, Alfredo Ferrant ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Renaldo David was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. 77 minutes into the match, Bolivia's goalkeeper Camilo Freixa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sherman Sosa. The audience thought a goal was coming when Dexter Snell got free with Camilo Freixa in the 83rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Renaldo David showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eduardo Fontirroig in the 86th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 87th minute, Eduardo Fontirroig managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bolivia's supporters rose to their feet, but Eduardo Fontirroig was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Renaldo David breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Eduardo Fontirroig fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Renaldo David having to interfere. Renaldo David made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eduardo Fontirroig in the 94th minute of play. When Darron Healy fell near the penalty area in the 96th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored United States's protests and gave Darron Healy a yellow card for diving instead. Julio Chicote didn't quite understand what happened when in the 97 minute of the game managed to get a great opportunity for a goal and then missed the goal by a feet. United States's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.