Bolivarism celebrates its beloved 'Liberator'.

 It could not be otherwise. The Bolivarista fans celebrated yesterday their beloved Simón Bolívar Libertador Stadium with a party and in one of its last functions, they celebrated a sentimental moment but also a moment of joy that they will never forget.

Nearly two hundred people gathered at the old stadium in the Tembladerani area at the call of the management, who decided to make the stadium the center of attention in the commemoration of the 97th anniversary of the La Paz team.

The doors of the stadium opened at 11:00 a.m. and entire families were present. All the celebration took place on the pitch. Sports dynamics such as soccer-tennis, penalty kicks and informal matches were organized there.

Around the field, foosball tables were installed and in another sector an improvised museum where the trophies won by the Academy throughout its history were exhibited. Attendees did not miss the opportunity to take the famous selfies.

There were also food outlets, the chola sandwich and the choripán, the most requested by diners. An exclusive point for tasting the club's muscatel wine and other snacks. Sale of official sports apparel and other attractions.

After midday, the musical festival began. Los Juglares del Sur opened the event with a folkloric rhythm, the show was also animated by Grupo Hit, Son Mestizo, Hermanos Romero, DJ Danilo Mix and the central act was in charge of the famous tropical singer Jorge Eduardo who made the crowd dance with songs that are part of the musical repertoire of the academics such as 'Bolivarista señores soy yo' or 'Celeste a morir'. The activity lasted all afternoon and closed around 19.00.

"Ninety-seven years are not celebrated every day, the party in Tembladerani is to celebrate this great stadium because its essence is not going away and will remain the same forever, the demolition has not yet proceeded so we will continue to carry out some other final activities," said marketing manager Mariano Alvarez.

The people vibrated with the entertainment numbers, but also expressed their sentimentality for the history captured in this old building that was Bolivar's home for more than 40 years.

"Tembla is leaving us, it is sad for all that we lived here but also fill us with happiness because they will build a better one," said Veimar Chuquimia.

"As a child I came to see the Academy here with my dad, who is no longer with me but they are unique moments that we will never forget, Tembladerani forever," emphasized Yuri de la Gasca.

The ladies are also fans and were not left out: "For me this stadium and Bolívar are everything and I am going to celebrate to the max, long live Bolívar and Tembla," said Albita Quiroz. 

It was one of the last events to be held at the stadium, which will be demolished at the end of the month or beginning of May to make way for the construction of the new sky-blue temple.

At her hotel Salqui, Ines Quispe says she will return to Tigre in two years

 The former president of The Strongest reappeared and said that she will continue the legacy of César Salinas (+). 

What am I going to take away from this life? He asks himself. "Nothing," she answers. That's why Inés Quispe de Salinas is convinced: "In about two years I will return (to Tigre) because it's what I like". Although she is saddened by her club's current situation, the former president of The Strongest is motivated "because I'm a die-hard stronguista". At a party organized by her children - at her hotel Salqui Resort Mecapaca - the businesswoman says she wants to continue the soccer legacy of her husband César Salinas (+).

"He was in charge of making me like the sport and the truth is that I will return, but not now. In two years it is in my plans to return", she reinforces. Flower petals cover almost all her hair.  She is the queen of her party. "This is a surprise my children made for me. They gave me the surprise of my life," she laughs.

The band Veneno plays music to her dialogue.  "The truth is that I left the institution for health reasons", she explains while listening: "People say that I am a stronguista at heart...".

For a year and two months, Quispe (April 19, 1964) has been following his Tigre from the stands. "First there was my health and now I feel fine, but I always have some treatments to comply with and then I'll be back," she insists.

Quispe is the first female president (July 2019-February 2021) in the history of the dean club of Bolivian professional soccer.

"In this time, the club has changed a lot and time will be in charge of judging the people who did things in a bad way", he protests, remembering that "I didn't even receive an invitation for Tigre's anniversary (April 8). It is a very unfortunate situation I am going through, not economically, but emotionally because the club I love did not even give me an invitation. But well... that's the least of it. I will continue to be a stronguista to death and I will finish with that. I left so that they manage well and continue to do things well. There were some tax debts, but there were not many anymore. It was a matter of complying a little more and keep going forward".

Elections in Tigre

"There should be elections at the club. Two months ago or last year I went to visit the president (of the Bolivian Football Federation) Fernando Costa to ask him to hold elections in the club because that would be ideal", reveals the businesswoman who at the end of last year finalized the purchase of the Hotel Andino, from the leader of Unidad Demócrata (UD) Samuel Doria Medina. 

The former head of Tigre explained that her term of office "expired in November last year. So, now there should be elections in the institution, as it should be, but they have liked the chair, the power.... I don't know how far it will take them".

Last year he interrupted his leadership career that began in 2014, in the administrative section of the club.

Will he run in the elections?

"No, two years from now because I have several things pending because I know how to measure my times, my urgencies and then I will gladly do it," he responds to the query of journalist Victor Hugo Mendoza, of the DXTV program. "God willing, I will come back because I like soccer, so I will come back", he says goodbye to return to the party with approximately 300 guests. 

Marcelo Robledo in Brazil: "We are a very humble team (...) We don't even have a field".

 Independiente's technical director spoke after the loss to Palmeiras 

The Bolivian champion Independiente had a night of terror on Tuesday at the Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo, where they were beaten 8-1 by Palmeiras of Brazil in the second round of the Copa Libertadores.

El Matador started winning with a goal by Erik Correa 6 minutes into the match, but could not sustain the difference in the scoreboard and was overwhelmed by a Brazilian team superior in all aspects.

This was confirmed by Independiente's technical director, Marcelo Robledo, at the press conference after the match.

He emphasized that the first half of the team from Chuquisaca was "the best in our history", highlighting that this is "a new team and we are facing the champion (of America)".

    "It wasn't in the plans such a tremendous thrashing," acknowledged Robledo, also emphasizing the experience and talent of the Brazilian players. "They are all a machine," he added.

For Robledo, the Independiente team had "neither the intelligence nor the capacity" to sustain at least the draw and the goal at the beginning of the second half ended up derailing everything that had been planned.

    "We are a very humble team, we are looking for a field to be able to train on a daily basis, we don't even have a field (...) We had talked about it that if we found ourselves with this possibility (of taking the lead), we had to defend it to the maximum", said the coach.

Thus, Robledo analyzed Independiente's defeat and then returned to the country to face their next match, on Saturday, against Always Ready, in El Alto. For the Copa Libertadores they will play again on Tuesday, April 26, against Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela, at the Patria stadium in Sucre.

Carlos Arias: "I survived twice in less than a year".

 The former goalkeeper of Blooming, Bolívar, Oriente, The Strongest and the Bolivian national team recovered from Covid-19 and an accident that caused burns all over his body. 

Life has given Carlos Arias a new opportunity and he does not miss it. He is slowly returning to normality after a serious work accident that almost cost him his life. It was a complicated moment, but he is getting better and better, and jovial as always, he attended us to talk for a while.

The renowned goalkeeper is now behind him, although the unforgettable moments in soccer are always at hand to relive them. It is not for less, he was goalkeeper of the most important teams of the country and also played in Spain and Israel. At the age of 18 he became national champion and was the goalkeeper of the Bolivian national team for a long time.

El Pollo' played for Blooming, The Strongest, Bolívar, Maccabi Netanya, Córdoba C.F., Oriente Petrolero, Guabirá and Sport Boys Warnes.

But he moved away from the courts and started a new life, with private enterprises such as the broasted chicken shops he runs. It was precisely in one of them where he suffered the accident that almost cost him his life and left him with scars that he still suffers in the flesh.

 "I survived twice in less than a year", says the 42 year old Portachueleño, and tells that first it was the Covid-19 that squeezed his lungs and then the accident in his restaurant "Pollo" Arias in which the flames almost extinguished his existence.

Three months after the accident, he still has after-effects. Carlos is optimistic, with faith in God and grateful to all those who gave him a helping hand when he needed it most.

Pollo relives the accident as a terrible movie. He has very clear images...

-I remember that I went out in the middle of the fire; when the gas was mixed with the fire I received a blow that knocked me backwards. I understood that I had fallen because I wanted to get up but I couldn't, maybe it was because of the kitchen floor... it was a desperation, a screaming on my part... When I managed to stand up I saw fire everywhere and the first thing I did was to run for it.

Did you lose consciousness?

-No, not at any moment, because after I heard the cylinder start to ring I went in to turn it off because of the serious danger it meant, because there were more cylinders in the place and one thinks that everything is going to explode.

What caused it all?

-They are accidents that happen. They thought that the cylinder was closed but it had been turned... I fought and fought but it was too late because the fire broke out because the 'flamazo', as they call it when gas accumulated in the kitchen. I went out, ran, went back in, called for help, I wanted them to call the ambulance. At one point I could not stand it any longer and they took me to the Ucebol clinic where they gave me first aid; then I was in the Caja Petrolera de Salud receiving great attention.

How much of your body was affected by the fire?

-I ended up burning almost 70% of my body with second degree wounds and only one third degree wound (the most serious). Thank God now I only have the after-effects of the burn spots. I have to wear bandages on both arms for several more months to protect me from the sun, because it cannot hit me directly; they are bandages that apply pressure and prevent further damage to my skin.

She stands up and shows the upper part of her arms, on the left one she has places where the skin has not yet completely regenerated and permanently has blisters.

Was your life in danger?

-Yes, my life was in danger. Hours after the accident I had the first emergency cleaning..., I really could not stand so much pain because there were many wounds and they were very big. The next day they had to sedate me and intubate me to be able to perform a total cleaning; but the bad thing was that I had a cardiac arrhythmia, that's why I was in intensive care for three days.

A complicated moment...

-Of course, I was saved, thank God.

And what is happening now, three months after the event?

-On April 5 it was three months since the accident, after which I started to walk, jog and even ride a bicycle, trying to get back to almost normality... it will be normality for me when I can go back to practicing the sports I like, without having to run away from the sun.

The important thing is that everything is evolving well?

-My vital organs are perfect. When I went into the operating room for the first time, on January 8, I suffered a cardiac arrhythmia, I suddenly became hypertensive because I had played 18 years in professional soccer and we always had complete examinations before starting each preseason, but they had never detected any problem in my heart. The doctors explained to me that this was normal because of the accident I had suffered, in which the body loses many of its properties, so it is normal for the heart to start beating faster to recover everything it needs.

And how long will you need for a full recovery?

-I have been told at Cerniquem that it will take between 8 months and a year for me to recover the dermis and epidermis I lost. The burns leave stains, scars, but I am not really worried about whether I am stained or not; what is most important for me today is that I am alive and that I have another chance in this world after life has hit me so hard in one year.

What happened before...?

-In April 2021 I was attacked by Covid, which affected 85% of my lungs... I almost died because I had to be intubated with so much lung involvement. A doctor told me that it was a miracle that with 85% of my lungs affected and that they had not intubated me... But of course, I needed oxygen at home, they put me on 15 medications a day.

But at the end of the year you were fine?

-Of course, in December I went to play the Oriente-Blooming classic in Naples (United States), I was hit by Covid again, on December 30 I tested negative and on January 5 this happened to me (the accident in your restaurant)... so I came back beaten up.

But you always received a lot of support and affection?

-In all this the support of the family is very important, my wife, children, siblings, many relatives and -of course- so many friends who collaborated; I am grateful to all of them for these shows of solidarity in Santa Cruz, in the interior of the country... they have helped us to alleviate the burden because, as you know, a person died and the relatives have to be compensated. The expenses were impressive because although I had insurance in the Caja Petrolera (my wife had insured me 3 days ago) but the medicines were not covered by the insurance, precisely because of a matter of seniority; anyway, we saved a lot because I needed an operating room five times, specialists and so many expenses that an event of this nature demands.

But you are getting ahead...

-God knows why things happen... and at the end of the day he will know when I am going to leave. Look, in one year I was on the brink of the abyss in the two most serious deaths: drowning (lack of oxygen from the Covid) and burning alive. If you ask me which of the two (deaths) is the ugliest...I really don't know because in both cases the feeling is horrible.

Did what happened to you in a year change your life or did it change the way you look at life?

-I see it like this: although I don't consider myself an angel, I'm not a thumper, I'm not a rogue, I'm not a crook, I try to be fair with people, I've always believed in God. Living a year in Israel changed my mentality about religion: if the Arabs had discovered America, we would be of the Muslim religion, the same as if the Jews had discovered us...in the end it is all that they inculcate in us; the Spaniards arrived first and introduced us to Christianity. There is a God and I believe in him because he saved me, that's why I try to be fair and supportive.

Pablo Salomón, the first person apprehended in the 'audios' case

 The former ACF executive was sued by Fernando Costa, president of the FBF, who filed a lawsuit against him for extortion and criminal association.

Pablo Salomón, former president of the Asociación Cruceña de Fútbol (ACF) and former executive of the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol (FBF), was arrested by the police this Friday in compliance with the arrest warrant executed on April 5 by Lupe Zabala, from the Departmental Prosecutor's Office of La Paz.

Salomón was sued by Fernando Costa, president of the FBF, who initiated legal proceedings against him for criminal association and extortion.

This matter has to do with the audios that were made public at the beginning of the year and that point to the current head of the federation in match-fixing in the last championship and in the purchase of votes for the elections that took place at the end of January.

It was learned that Salomón will be transferred to the Government headquarters to give his statement on the case and that the same fate will have other defendants such as Hormando Vaca Díez, Mary Cruz Soleto, Óscar Ardaya and Miguel Alberto Lozada, who also have an arrest warrant.

Marcelo Martins, top scorer of the World Cup qualifiers

 The national team striker finished the competition with ten goals, ahead of players such as Neymar, Leo Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Luis Suárez, among others.

The 18th date of the qualifiers for the World Cup Qatar 2022 was completed and Marcelo Martins remained at the top of the scoring charts with ten goals. We cannot yet say that he finished as the top scorer of the competition, because the match between Brazil and Argentina, which was suspended last year, has yet to be played.

And the fact is that both the Verdeamarilla and the Albiceleste have players who aim to dethrone the captain of La Verde, the case of the Brazilian Neymar, who has eight goals, in addition to the Argentines Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, who have scored seven goals. Uruguay's Luis Suárez has eight goals, but his national team has no more matches pending.

Martins was unable to score against Brazil on Tuesday, but he remains the top scorer in the qualifiers and the all-time top scorer for La Verde with 30 goals between friendly and official matches.

The first goal of the 'Matador' in these qualifiers was against Argentina, in La Paz, on October 13, 2020; then he scored another against Ecuador, also at the Government headquarters, on November 12, 2020.

His third goal was scored against Paraguay, in Asuncion, on November 17, 2020; then he scored a goal against Chile, on March 26, 2021, in Rancagua.

He scored two goals against Venezuela in La Paz, on June 3, 2021; then he scored again against the Chilean national team, in Santiago, on June 8, 2021; while his eighth goal was against Uruguay, in Montevideo, on September 5, 2021; and it was the Charrúa team that suffered his ninth goal, in La Paz, on November 16, 2021.

Marcelo Martins' tenth goal in these qualifiers came against Chile, in La Paz, on February 1 this year, which was also his last goal in the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Qualifiers: Bolivia 0 - 4 Brasil

 An unpresentable version of Bolivia was seen yesterday in La Paz. There is no future for the 2026 qualifiers.

The ordeal is over, the end of one of Bolivia's worst qualifying rounds. An unpresentable national team lost 4-0 last night against Brazil at the Hernando Siles stadium, something that was a foregone conclusion due to the low level of Bolivian soccer, which once again places it among the last teams in South America.

The limitations of the Bolivian national team were even more evident against an opponent of hierarchy, which embarrassed them more than once in the first part of the match.

It was enough for the Canarinha to have possession of the ball and play it with precision, hiding the ball from La Verde, who did not know what to do on the field.

What a nostalgia for those Bolivian teams that beat Brazil three times in the Siles stadium, but with attitude, desire to win, something that the team coached by César Farías lacked until last night.

The Venezuelan failed again in the formation of the team, stubborn as he is he trained with a group since Friday and put other men last night. A clear example was the absence of Ramiro Vaca from the start.

In spite of all the bad things, the best of the Bolivian team was the insistence of Henry Vaca, tireless in his task and the most incisive on the field.

The Canarinha goals

 Brazil measured the tempo and scored when Bolivia least expected it. A warning came after 12 minutes with a shot by Antony that left Sagredo and Fernandez standing still.

Bolivia's best was a play by Henry Vaca, who was left alone, but Alisson responded without problems.

The first goal of the night was a combination of Guimaraes and Fabinho that left Lucas Paqueta alone and he easily beat Cordano (23').

Before the break (44'), Richarlison broke free and Antony scored the second against an unimpressive Bolivian team.

Second half

Bolivia's best were the first 15 minutes of the second half. The presence of Ramiro Vaca changed the tone of La Verde. After two minutes, a header by Martins crashed against the left post. After ten minutes came the best play of the night with a shot by Ramiro Vaca that was saved by the Brazilian goalkeeper and from the rebound Roberto Fernandez was unable to finish.

Brazil showed its forcefulness again and took advantage of a bad start by the Bolivian players to score the third of the night through Bruno Guimaraes (20') and the match was already looking like a rout for the Canarinha.

Gabriel spared Bolivia's life in the final part of the match with a couple of plays that did not end in a goal only by luck in Cordano's goal.

The one who did not forgive was Richarlison in the time limit to seal the Brazilian victory, the biggest in the history of the qualifiers in Paceño territory.

Farias said that he is leaving a team for three cycles, something that is not true. With this group of players we are expecting the same or worse in the next qualifiers. The problem is the weak structure of Bolivian soccer that will continue in the same way, as long as the federation leadership does not present a serious project. 

Tite attacks La Paz and Etcheverry calls him "coward".

Brazil's coach said it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude.

Brazil's coach, Tite, warned that against eliminated Bolivia his team will not be "as vertical" as it usually is, due to the altitude of La Paz, and was encouraged to achieve a victory to break the record for most points in the South American qualifying round. He said that it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude. In response to this version, former La Verde national team player Marco Antonio Etcheverry was quick to retort: "Let the famous Tite keep quiet, he is a coward". 

"We are not going to have a team as vertical as we have had in recent games because (the altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level) does not allow it, it is inhuman," said the coach at a press conference on Monday in Teresopolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Hours later, Etcheverry sent a message to the players of the national team and another to the Brazilian DT. "I hope they score four (goals) for the excuses they are making. I do not want to say other words because they will think it is discriminatory, but it seems to me that (Tite) is a coward, to be talking about the altitude when they are already qualified to the World Cup. (...) It seems very cowardly to me. It bothered me a lot, I didn't hear it before. Tité is a coward", protested the ex-footballer to Futbolmania. 

Tite

"There are other strategies, to keep possession of the ball. We hope the pitch is in good condition. We won't be able to put the same rhythm, the same speed we usually use in home games or in normal conditions", he added.

Qualified since November for the Qatar-2022 World Cup and undefeated leader with 42 points from 16 games, the 'Seleção' will break the record for most points in the South American qualifiers if they beat the Bolivians on the last day of the qualifiers, without the suspended Neymar and Vinicius Jr.

The record in the current competition format (10 teams, all against all, established for the road to France-1998) is held by Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina, who scored 43 points on the road to Korea and Japan-2002.

Brazil has another chance to break or extend that record, because it has a game against Argentina pending. That match should have been played in September in Sao Paulo, but was suspended due to alleged violations of the anti-virus protocol by the Albicelestes.

Furthermore, if the five-time champions beat Bolivia, second last with 15 points, they would displace Belgium from first place in the FIFA ranking.   

"It has meaning (breaking that record and reaching the top spot). Personally (what's important) is to see the team play very well again, to get through adversity strategically, to have their soccer represented with technical quality and possession," he said.

Without Neymar and Vinicius Jr, Tite would make seven changes compared to the starting XI that thrashed Chile 4-0 on Thursday at the Maracana. Substitute goalkeeper Weverton will also be out through injury.

The 'Canarinha', which will travel to Bolivia on Monday afternoon, will start with Alisson in goal, Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Éder Militão and Alex Telles at the back, Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá in the middle, and Antony, Philippe Coutinho and Richarlison up front. 

Bolivia seeks fourth victory over Brazil in the qualifiers

 La Verde has already beaten the Verdeamarilla on three occasions in the city of La Paz. In addition, there have been two draws and two Brazilian victories in Bolivian territory.

Bolivia has the numbers against it in the history of meetings with Brazil. Both teams have faced each other 16 times in the World Cup qualifiers, La Verde has three wins, La Verdeamarilla has nine victories and there have been four draws.

Considering only the matches played in Bolivia, they have met seven times. The home team has won on three occasions, the visitors on two and they have drawn two matches.

The last time they played in La Paz, the match ended in a draw with a blank score. It was on October 5, 2017 for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The three Bolivian victories took place at the Hernando Siles stadium. The first time was on July 25, 1993, in the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. On that occasion, La Verde won 2-0.

Then they won again on November 7, 2001, in the qualifiers for the World Cup Korea-Japan 2002, by 3-1; and the last time was on October 11, 2009, in the qualifiers for the World Cup South Africa 2010, by 2-1.

This Tuesday, the team coached by César Farías will seek to give Bolivia its fourth victory against the powerful Brazil, within the framework of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

As an additional fact, Bolivia and Brazil have faced each other only once in a World Cup, in Uruguay 1930, when Brazil won 4-0.

Brazil has only beaten Bolivia once in La Paz in the qualifiers

  One of Brazil's best teams in the qualifiers was the one that won the Canarinha's only victory over Bolivia in La Paz. On the road to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the Brazilians beat the national team 2-1, and after that victory all their visits to the Hernando Siles ended in defeats or draws.

Brazil in 1981 was a constellation of stars under the command of Telé Santana. That group of players included Waldir Pérez, Oscar, Junior, Toninho Cerezo, Zico, Socrates, Reynaldo and Eder. The only one who did not make it in that group was Falcao, who the following year was in the group that failed to win the World Cup organized by the Spaniards.

On the rainy afternoon of February 22, 1981, both teams met in Miraflores. La Verde lined up with Carlos Conrado Jiménez in goal; Juan Carlos Trigo, Edgar Vaca, Edwin Espinoza and Windsor del Llano in defense; Eduardo Angulo, Erwin Romero, Carlos Aragonés and Carlos Borja in midfield; Gastón Taborga and Miguel Aguilar in attack.

"At 3 minutes, Aguilar smashed the ball into the corner of the auriverde goal, but four minutes later Sócrates, on a stroll, opened the scoring. At 27 minutes Aragonés brought Bolivia back to life with a superb header after a corner cross. In the second half Reynaldo, the Brazilian, in the 15th minute put the final numbers. Bolivia insisted tirelessly in a full and hopeful stadium, but it was not to be. 2 to 1 for the three-time champions. That was the end of the Bolivian illusion", recalls Carlos Mesa in the Historia del Fútbol Boliviano portal.

The Canarinha has another victory in the country, it was in 1985 (2-0) when they played against La Verde in Santa Cruz.

 DT FARÍAS HIDES THE ELEVEN OF LA VERDE

César Farías put maximum security at the Hernando Siles stadium to prevent people from seeing the team he has lined up for tomorrow's match against Brazil (19:30), in his farewell as coach of La Verde.

The little that could be seen is that the forward duo is confirmed with Henry vaca and Marcelo Martins. Where there is no light is in the goal with Guillermo Viscarra and Rubén Cordano who were very active, the other doubt is the right wing where Gabriel Villamil or Fran Supayabe could appear. On the other flank Roberto Fernández is immovable. The defense would be Jairo Quinteros, José María Carrasco and José Sagredo. In the middle, Moisés Villarroel, Gabriel Villamil and Ramiro Vaca.

Bolivia is the only team to beat Brazil three times

Bolivia has almost always been eliminated from the World Cup and Brazil, on the contrary, is a permanent and ever-present participant in the World Cup, but La Verde is the only team that has beaten it on three occasions in qualifying matches. La Canarinha has 12 defeats and three of them were at the Hernando Siles stadium.

In the new visit to the Government headquarters on Tuesday, Brazil will try not to lose for the fourth time against Bolivia, which would be enough to finish the qualifiers undefeated, something that has not happened with any team in the round-robin system.

Of the three defeats Brazil has had in La Paz, the most painful was on July 25, 1993. On that day, Xabier Azkargorta's team broke their 40-year unbeaten streak without losing a qualifier.

The main thrills came in the second half: Erwin Sanchez had a golden chance to open the scoring with a penalty kick, but goalkeeper Taffarel blocked the shot with his legs. His luck changed at the end of the match.

With the clock ticking down, Marco Antonio Etcheverry received a long pass and piled up several players on the left. The Devil's Devil delayed his decision and ran out of angle, so he decided to send a low cross in search of a teammate. His shot went straight to Taffarel, who made a real accident of it by bouncing the ball into his own net with his foot in the 88th minute.

The explosion of the Hernando Siles had not yet silenced its echoes when Brazil went all out in search of the equalizer. Álvaro Peña received a brilliant pass from Etcheverry to face and beat Taffarel again with a dry right-footed shot in the 89th minute to the delight of the fans.

Bolivia's starting line-up that afternoon was as follows: Carlos Leonel Trucco, Miguel Rimba, Gustavo Quinteros, Marco Sandy, Carlos Borja, Luis Cristaldo, Milton Melgar, Julio Baldivieso, Erwin Sanchez (Ramiro Castillo), Marco Etcheverry and William Ramallo (Alvaro Pena).

Brazil played with Taffarel, Cafú, Valber, Marcio Santos, Leonardo, Mauro Silva, Luis Enrique (Jorginho) Zinho, Raí (Palinha) Bebeto and Muller.

The other two victories 

Eight years later, Bolivia achieved its second victory over the Brazilians by defeating them 3-1 in a match valid for the 2002 Korea-Japan qualifiers. Edilson gave the visitors the lead, then Líder Paz equalized and Julio César Baldivieso scored the remaining two goals, the last one a long-distance free kick that beat goalkeeper Marcos in the north goal of the Siles.

The last time we beat the Canarinha was in the qualifiers for South Africa 2010. Under Erwin Sanchez, La Verde won 2-1 in a match that took place on October 10, 2009. Edgar Olivares and Marcelo Martins scored for the national team and Nilmar for the visitors. 

Times are different, the teams that beat Brazil in La Paz had other players who made a difference on the field; today the outlook is very different, but La Verde has in its favor the fear that its rival has always expressed of playing in Miraflores.

The pentacampeón has played 126 knockout matches in 13 editions. Others who have beaten them are Argentina (2), Paraguay (2), Chile (2), Ecuador (2) and Uruguay (1); but Bolivia defeated them on three occasions. On Tuesday will the fourth contrast be able to arrive? 

Marcelo Martins conditions his continuity with La Verde

  Marcelo Martins has not yet decided whether Tuesday will be his last game with the national team. The attacker said yesterday that his permanence in La Verde is conditioned to a serious commitment on the part of the leadership to give the various selections working conditions.

"I am analyzing everything the FBF intends for the future. There is a new president who cares a lot about what happens in Bolivian soccer and that is positive because he is going to provide conditions to all the clubs and the national team with the construction of the Casa de la Verde," said Martins.

He highlighted the plans of the head of the federation, Fernando Costa, who intends to give other conditions to the players in the administration that began two months ago.

"If there is commitment with the fans and the players, I will think about whether I want to stay, because the love for this shirt is very big and we will analyze it well. I am the current top scorer in the qualifying rounds," he added.

Team

César Farías began to outline yesterday the line-up to receive Brazil on Tuesday. The tactical work he carried out at the Hernando Siles stadium allowed to see some lights of the team he has in mind. The defense will keep the line of three at the back with Jairo Quinteros, José María Carrasco and José Sagredo. Yesterday he worked on the right flank with José Herrera and Fran Supayabe, on the left will be Roberto Fernández.

In the middle were Moisés Villarroel, Gabriel Villamil and Ramiro Vaca; further forward were Henry Vaca and Marcelo Martins.

The team will continue with its work at the Miraflores stadium.

 BREAKING THE CANARINHA'S UNBEATEN STREAK

As happened 29 years ago, the national team wants to become the team that takes away Brazil's unbeaten record in the World Cup qualifiers and, with that victory, close this competition with its head held high in La Paz.

In 16 matches, Brazil has won 13 games and has drawn three times. They still have to play against Bolivia and Argentina.

In the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Bolivia defeated Brazil 2-0 on the second matchday, on July 25, 1993, silencing the Brazilian party, which was accompanied by a 40-year unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying matches.

Libertadores: Tigre goes against Brazilians, Paraguayans and Venezuelans; Always will be Boca's rival

  Bolivian clubs Independiente, The Strongest and Always Ready already know their opponents in the group stage of Copa Libertadores 2022, where the visits to the country of Palmeiras, Athletico Paranaense and Boca Juniors stand out.

According to Friday's draw in Luque, Conmebol's headquarters, Bolivian champion Independiente de Sucre found out that it will be in group "A" along with reigning two-time champion Palmeiras, Ecuador's Emelec and Venezuela's Deportivo Táchira.

Meanwhile, The Strongest entered group "B", where Athletico Paranaense, reigning champion of the Copa Sudamericana 2021, will return to the country. They will be joined by Libertad of Paraguay and Caracas FC of Venezuela.

Finally, Always Ready was paired in group "E", where Argentina's Boca Juniors leads the series, which is also completed by Brazil's Corinthians and Colombia's Deportivo Cali.

The following is a list of the groups of the Copa Libertadores, which will be played in the first week of April:

Conmebol Sudamericana: Oriente shares group with Fluminense

 The Conmebol Sudamericana draw left us in group H where we will face Junior Club SA, Club Atlético Unión and Fluminense Football Club.

We are going to Colombia 🇨🇴, Argentina 🇦🇷🇷 and Brazil 🇧🇷.

Wilstermann to face Sao Paulo, Ayacucho and Everton in the Sudamericana

  Wilstermann's squad was placed in series "D" of the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana, where it will face the clubs Sao Paulo from Brazil, Ayacucho from Peru and Everton from Chile.

Only the first of each group will advance to the round of 16, therefore, Wilstermann's task will not be an easy one, as the favorite to qualify is Sao Paulo of Brazil, champions of the 2012 Copa Sudamericana.

Meanwhile, Bolivia's other representative in this tournament, Oriente Petrolero, was placed in group "H" along with Junior from Colombia, Union de Santa Fe from Argentina and Fluminense from Brazil.

Qualifiers: Colombia 3 - 0 Bolivia

 Bolivia made the effort to keep the score at zero with will over soccer, soon their limitations allowed Colombia to win 3-0 in Barranquilla, in the penultimate date of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Colombia broke a seven-game winless streak, this victory hid their footballing problems under the table. Although they moved the ball where they wanted and for as long as they wanted.

The first Colombian goal was scored in the 39th minute by Luis Díaz, who broke free from Marc Enoumba's marker in a personal move and sent the ball into the left side of goalkeeper Rubén Cordano with a right-footed shot.

A minute after that action, the yellow team was inches away from extending the score, amidst the green team's disorientation. Daniel Muñoz headed a cross that was handled by Cordano and the crossbar helped prevent the goal.

The greater ball possession, with the minimal advantage, was an insecure ticket on Thursday night. The introduction of Miguel Borja changed the rhythm of the attack, and that change helped to make it 2-0 at 72', with Borja's header under the goal after a short cross.

Towards the end, the Bolivian defense again let loose on an indirect free kick. Andres Uribe (90') made a "palomita" dive to head in a rebound that hit the crossbar. Colombia's pressure was extended until the end.

With this defeat, Bolivia remains with 15 points in the ninth position. The closing of this campaign will be on Tuesday, March 29 (19:30) against Brazil at the "Hernando Siles" stadium; while Colombia will visit Venezuela in its last chance to go to the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Bolivia, almost out of the game, to face a needy Colombia in Barranquilla

 The match will be played this Thursday (19:30 Bolivian time) at the Metropolitano stadium. The Cafeteros are obliged to win to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Cup Qatar 2022. Facundo Tello, from Argentina, will be the referee.

Bolivia, almost hopeless, will visit Colombia this Thursday (19:30 Bolivian time), which is obliged to win to maintain its chances of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  

On the bench of La Verde (15), Venezuelan coach César Farías is betting on the "fresh energy" of the young players, given the "minimal possibility" that his team has of going to the World Cup and the absence of Marcelo Moreno Martins, the scorer of the qualifying round, due to suspension.  

Farias is looking for reasons to motivate a Bolivia that is practically out of the World Cup fight.

"We are two results away from Bolivia's best qualifying campaign in this format," said the coach, who included several U-23 players in his squad, including Ramiro Vaca (Beerschot/Belgium), who scored a goal in the current qualifying campaign.

"We can play well, badly, regularly, draw, win or lose, but we are not going to give ourselves away, as many might think: we are going with our best," Farias told the newspaper El Tiempo. 

The Venezuelan has dispensed with several regulars such as goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, midfielders Juan Carlos Arce and Fernando Saucedo.

Striker Moreno Martins will not be available for the match in Barranquilla, but was called up to close the qualifying round at home against Brazil.  

 Colombia must win

On the Colombian side, a goal drought has left the dream of the World Cup in the hands of others. They are obliged to win at home against an almost hopeless Bolivia, although the tricolor will be watching Uruguay, Peru and Chile, who are ahead of them in the race to Qatar 2022. 

On the verge of sinking, Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda takes on the last two dates of the South American pre-World Cup without major changes in front of a core of players who have gone seven games without a win (4 draws - 3 defeats) and without scoring - with the notable absence of Radamel Falcao due to physical problems.

From the Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla, the Cafeteros (17 points) will be hoping for a draw in Montevideo, where they will simultaneously face Uruguay (22) and Peru (21). They are also hoping that leaders and already qualified Brazil (39) will trip up Chile (19).  

 - Crisis and "faith

With Ecuador (25 points) about to join Argentina and Brazil in the trip to Qatar, the door is too narrow for the Uruguayans, Peruvians, Chileans and Colombians. 

The Cafeteros are trailing in the fourth-team race for the last direct ticket to the World Cup and another place in the playoff against a team from another continent. 

The fans are hoping that their new star Luis Diaz (Liverpool/England) will rescue them from the crisis unleashed by the unusual goal drought and the recent defeats against Peru and Argentina.

But dropping points against Bolivia would mean Rueda's second elimination in a pre-World Cup with his country's national team, after missing out on a ticket to Germany 2006. 

"I still don't think about not being in the World Cup, I have faith," Boca Juniors left back Frank Fabra, one of the few variants in the list presented by the former Chilean coach, told the media.

Strikers Luis Muriel and Alfredo Morelos, who performed well in the round of 16 of the Europa League with Atalanta and Rangers respectively, look like Rueda's last bets to avoid his second fall on his way to a World Cup.

Probable lineups:   

Colombia: David Ospina - Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Cuesta, Davinson Sanchez, Johan Mojica - James Rodríguez, Wilmar Barrios, Mateus Uribe, Luis Díaz - Luis Muriel, Alfredo Morelos. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda

Bolivia: Ruben Cordano - Jose Maria Carrasco, Sebastian Alvarez, Jose Sagredo - Marc Enoumba, Roberto Fernandez, Moises Villaroel, Richard Spenhay - Ramiro Vaca, Cesar Menacho - Bruno Miranda. Coach: César Farías. 

Argentine Facundo Tello will be the referee.

In Colombia they warn: We must go out and eat Bolivia

 During a press conference, the Colombian Luis Fernando Sinisterra warned that tomorrow, starting at 19:30, the Colombian national team must "go out and eat Bolivia".

The Colombian player, who plays in Europe, analyzed the match that the Colombian team will play against Bolivia.   "From the first minute we must go out to stifle the rival, try to provoke the rival in the first minute. From the first minute we must go out to eat Bolivia", anticipated the winger of Feyenoord of the Eredivisie of the Netherlands.

Of La Verde he said: "I think they will be a withdrawal and that is where we must be calm to move the ball from side to side and to filter the balls where there is space. We must take advantage of the first few minutes that will cost them here in Barranquilla," he said. Meanwhile, with the incorporation of players Dávinson Sánchez, Mateus Uribe and William Tesillo, the Colombian national soccer team that will play against Bolivia this Thursday (19:30) in Barranquilla, in the penultimate date of the qualifiers for Qatar 2022, was completed yesterday.

Luis Fernando Muriel also joined the practices, with him there are 28 players training under the orders of coach Reinaldo Rueda. According to the Colombian media report, the team worked yesterday afternoon, but today will be the most important work of the team, which will define the base team that will play against the Bolivians.

"The talent is there and we have to go out to stifle our rival, the first option we have we must score, we have to go out and eat Bolivia", said Luis Sinisterra, coffee player.

Bolivia will have no debutants in its lineup against Colombia

 In yesterday's training session, he kept the three-man back line, but included Carrasco alongside Haquín and Sagredo. Enoumba moved to play on the right.

Bolivia will not have debutants in the starting line-up to face Colombia tomorrow at the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla (19:30), for the penultimate date of the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar.

Coach César Farías affirmed yesterday that "there are no debutants in the starting line-up", which will face the Colombians.

"Luis Haquín has 25 international matches, Moisés Villarroel has 18, these guys have experience and whoever comes in, must run, score and have personality to keep the ball", said the DT after training at the Hernando Siles stadium. Farias' affirmation confirmed the players he has been working with in the last few days for the match against the Colombian team.

Yesterday, La Verde held another training session at the Hernando Siles stadium with tactical content. Farías ordered work to put pressure on the opponent, "not to let them think", as he mentioned at some point during the session.

However, there were a couple of moments in the session in which the tactician clearly set out the system and the men he will use in Barranquilla. The line of three at the back is defined, but yesterday in one of the sessions he put Fran Supayabe, who plays for Guabirá, on the right wing, then that place was taken by Marc Enoumba, who will finally run on that side, since according to Farias' words there will be no debutants in the team.

Roberto Fernández is confirmed for the left wing, and the three at the back will be José María Carrasco, Luis Haquín and José Sagredo. In the midfield, Moisés Villarroel is a fixed piece together with Franz González.  Jeyson Chura, César Menacho and Henry Vaca worked in front of them. As seen in the sessions, goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra will be in goal.

Menacho has not made his official debut in La Verde, so his place would be taken by Jaume Cuellar, from Lugo of Spain; also if Chura does not go, the one who has a guaranteed place is Ramiro Vaca, who plays in Belgian soccer. Another issue that has been defined is the captaincy. Without Martins, Arce and Bejarano, coach Farías confirmed that Villarroel will wear the headband.

In Barranquilla

The national delegation moved last night to the venue of this Thursday's match.

Bolivia plans to work this afternoon at the Metropolitano stadium at the same time as the match against the Colombians.

Jaume Cuellar and Ramiro Vaca will join today's session, having settled in earlier at the training camp.

While La Verde plays against Colombia, Marcelo Martins is expected to arrive from Asuncion, Paraguay, for next Tuesday's game against Brazil. The striker did not play last weekend for Cerro Porteño due to injury.

"He has a traumatism in his left foot, he received a blow in Wednesday's tactical training, it was in the heel and it affected his Achilles tendon", explained Cerro's DT, Francisco Arce, about the injury of the Bolivian attacker.

Martins has played four games in Cerro Porteño's jersey and has yet to score his first goal. 

La Verde has zero points and zero goals in Colombia

 The worst drubbing suffered by the national team against the Colombians was 5-0 (2013), when coach Xabier Azkargorta was in charge of the team. 

The Bolivian national team has everything against it for another visit to Colombia. Of the nine opponents La Verde has played against in CONMEBOL, it has taken points from all of them abroad, but the exception is Colombia, with which it has only known defeats in the six matches it has played in the World Cup qualifiers.

The statistics are totally unfavorable for Bolivia, since in all the matches they played in Bogota and Barranquilla they could not score a single goal. This Thursday 24, from 19:00, César Farías's team will try to break this bad streak against the Colombian team in the penultimate match to be played at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez stadium.

Since August 20, 1997, when they met for the first time in a World Cup qualifier for France 1998, the Colombians have been in control of their territory and have not let any points slip away from La Verde. That first encounter included several players who had qualified for the World Cup four years earlier, but who were in the final part of their national team careers.

Lineup

La Verde's lineup included Carlos Trucco, Juan Manuel Peña, Marco Antonio Sandy, Oscar Sánchez, Fernando Ochoaizpur, Sergio Castillo, Luis Héctor Cristaldo, Rubén Tufiño, Jaime Moreno, Marco Antonio Etcheverry and Erwin Sánchez. The team coached by Spaniard Antonio López Habas lost 3-0 and ended the game with ten men due to the expulsion of Tufiño. The goals for the Colombians were scored by Anthony de Ávila, Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla.

The new century

In 2001, Bolivians and Colombians met again in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan. Colombia was preparing its team to host that year's Copa América and beat La Verde, coached by Carlos Aragonés, 2-0.

For the 2006 World Cup in Germany, it was the closest result of all Bolivia's visits to that country, 1-0. Colombia was coached by Reinaldo Rueda, who coincidentally coached that team in this qualifier.  Everyone's team was coached by Ramiro Blacut.

Bolivia's last three visits also ended in defeat: in 2009 the result was 2-0 with Erwin Sánchez as coach; while nine years ago there was the most resounding defeat, 5-0, to the group commanded by Xabier Azkargorta.

In 2017 , Mauricio Soria was the DT of the national team and in the visit to Barranquilla they reaped another defeat by the minimum difference.

 As locals, the Colombians have a perfect score, since they won the 18 points in dispute, scored 14 goals and did not concede any goal against the different Bolivian teams.

For Thursday, the Colombians are favorites to take the three points in dispute that will allow them to hope for a miracle to go to the World Cup. 

FBF postpones congress because there is still no agreement with MediaPro

  Due to the fact that the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) and the company MediaPro have not yet reached an agreement regarding the costs for the training of referees and the implementation of video refereeing (VAR) in national soccer, it was decided to postpone the extraordinary congress of the FBF that was to be held today in La Paz.

"It has been determined to suspend the extraordinary congress that we had called since we did not reach an agreement with the company MediaPro, which is the one that will provide us with the technological service of VAR.

We are going to take a few days to conclude negotiations and have a consensus on the content of the contract," explained Fernando Costa, president of the FBF.

Costa said yesterday that what remains to be agreed with MediaPro is the issue of costs.

"What is being sought is a better cost for the VAR technological service. Once we have, God willing, a favorable response to sign, then we will reconvene congress," Costa added.

With this postponement, the beginning of the whole process for the implementation of the VAR, which was to start this year from the first championship, as Costa promised in the 2021 management, is also delayed.

On the subject, Costa assured that the VAR will be implemented for the second semester tournament.

"We are independently initiating a training of our technicians, we are working with the person in charge to take charge of the courses. What is holding us back at the moment is that we want to negotiate a better cost in terms of technological support," added the federation head.

Sagredo will be the one who played the most with La Verde in the qualifying round.

 The player played in the last 16 rounds and is one of the key players to be present against Colombia and Brazil, at the end of the qualifiers.

José Sagredo will finish the qualifying campaign for Qatar as the player who played the most games for the Bolivian national team in the tournament that is about to conclude. If the defender is included in the starting lineup against Colombia, he will reach 17 games, an unreachable figure for the rest of his teammates.

The absence of goalkeeper Carlos Lampe and the forced absence of striker Marcelo Martins against the Cafeteros make Sagredo the "infallible" in the call-ups of coach César Farías due to his presence in the starting team in the 16 dates that have already been played up to last February.

According to records, Sagredo started 12 matches and was substituted four times. Until the last match played against Chile, Sagredo accumulated 1,162 minutes in total.

The player from Santa Cruz started the qualifiers as a left back (2020), when he played for The Strongest, but DT Farias changed the system and put him as a stopper in the line of three that became usual in La Verde. Sagredo's regular performance in that position meant that, first at El Tigre and currently at Bolívar, he has maintained that position.

Lampe and Martins

The other players who had the most appearances in this competition were Carlos Lampe with 16 games played and 1,440 minutes, as he was never substituted; but the penalty for the goalkeeper is that he was not taken into account for this last double date of the qualifying round and will remain with that record.

The third place went to Marcelo Martins with 15 appearances and 1,316 minutes accumulated. The striker will not play against Colombia due to the accumulation of yellow cards, but he will play against Brazil, which will bring his total to 16 games.

The player who played the least minutes in these qualifiers was John García with only three minutes played in Bolivia's 3-0 defeat against Ecuador on the eleventh matchday. Garcia is currently called up to the national team and can improve his record.

Practice

La Verde trained yesterday afternoon at the Villa el Sol complex in the town of Ananta, behind closed doors. Henry Vaca aims to be the only attacker that will have on Thursday against Colombia, in Barranquilla (19:30). The rest of the team would go with Guillermo Viscarra, in goal, the line of three would be formed by José María Carrasco, Luis Haquín and José Sagredo.  Marc Enoumba and Roberto Fernández would play on the wings, Moisés Villarroel and Richard Spenhay in the middle, Ronaldo Sánchez and César Menacho further forward, while Vaca will be the only striker.

The national delegation is scheduled to travel to the venue tomorrow. On Wednesday, the last training session will be held there and the return of La Verde is scheduled for Friday. 

Colombia vs. Bolivia or the most ineffective vs. the most scored

 El combinado nacional es el más goleado de la actual Eliminatoria con 35 goles en contra. El equipo de Farías ya está eliminado, el de Rueda se aferra aún a las matemáticas.

The team that "doesn't even score a goal against the rainbow" and the worst-scoring team in the current qualifiers will meet on Thursday (19:30) in Barraquilla. Colombia has gone seven consecutive matches without scoring a goal in the qualifiers and Bolivia is, at the moment, the highest-scoring team in the competition, with 35 goals conceded.

The harsh phrase in quotation marks at the beginning of the article comes from Carlos Alberto Valderrama, the legendary former player of the Colombian national team, who did not mince his words in criticizing his team's lack of goals, which has them on the verge of elimination from the World Cup.

Despite their poor performance, the Colombians are still clinging to a miracle to be present at the World Cup at the end of the year, but to do so they must score in their last two matches against Bolivia and Venezuela.

The 646 minutes without scoring began in the 3-1 win over Chile on September 9, 2021. Luis Díaz scored the goal 29 minutes into the second half and it was the last time the Cafetaleros embraced to celebrate.

After the match against the trans-Andeans, Colombia failed to score in seven consecutive games: against Uruguay, Brazil (twice), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Argentina.

The harsh reality

In the last few hours, the Colombian press released another piece of information regarding the scoring droughts of national teams in the world and Colombia is the third in the "shameful" list together with Paraguay, since they have not scored since last year. They are only surpassed by Anguilla of Concacaf (12 matches without scoring-2004) and Seychelles of the African confederation, also with seven strikes in 2008.

"All the scorers have come and we are not able to score a goal, we haven't scored a goal in seven games. You have to recognize when you play badly, which is what happens in the national team, but they get pissed off when you give an opinion. We don't even score a goal against the rainbow," Valderrama stressed.

With only 17 points obtained in 16 games played, Colombia will have the obligation to win on Thursday against Bolivia and on the 29th against Venezuela as visitors, hoping that Chile, Peru and Uruguay do not have 24 points or more.

Bolivia, the worst scorer

A couple of weeks ago, the technical director of the Bolivian national team, César Farías, highlighted in his report on his cycle in the Bolivian national team (2019-2022) that "Bolivia has scored 23 goals in 16 dates of the qualifiers, the same amount as Argentina and the highest number of goals in the last seven qualifiers".

What Farías forgot to include in his 80-page document is that in the current competition, La Verde has conceded 35 goals, has the most goals scored among the 10 teams of the continent and if in these two remaining dates to close the road to Qatar it concedes more than three goals, it will be the Bolivian team with the most goals scored since the qualifiers were played in the system all against all (1998). In competitions that had 18 matches, like the current one, Bolivia has three editions in which it conceded more than 35 goals: for the qualifiers for the World Cup in Germany (2006) its goal was beaten 37 times, for South Africa 2010 it conceded 36 goals and the one that endured more goals was Russia 2018 with 38 goals. Will Colombia be able to break its goal drought against Bolivia, which is the highest-scoring team in the current qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar 2022?

Blooming - THE BRIEF ERA OF LOCAL PROFESSIONALISM

 Santa Cruz soccer became a professional sport in 1965. Blooming won its first and only Santa Cruz title at the professional level three years later, in 1968.

In 1974, they were relegated from the Santa Cruz professional league, but a great campaign in the B division in 1975 brought them back to the first A division, which allowed them to join the league two years later.

1968. El equipo que obtuvo su único título en el profesionalismo cruceño: Higazy, Suárez, R. Larramendia, Frey, I. Larramendia,Rodríguez, Justiniano, Matatheu, Mendoza y Telchi. De cuclillas: Roly Aguilera, Gamarra, Gutiérrez, J. Justiniano, Oliveira, Villa, Arteaga, Benquique y Oyola.

The Classics

When professional soccer was created in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in 1965, Bloming vs. Destroyers was considered the classic of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, due in large part to the popularity and rivalry between the two teams. Founded in 1946 and 1948 respectively, possibly because of their similar age, they captured the attention of the fans. It could also be that this competition was due to the fact that the so-called academics were representative of an elite and the others, called "cuchuquis" of a popular neighborhood: the "Maquina Vieja" and its surroundings. Thus they constituted the classic of the time.

However, the emergence of Oriente Petrolero (founded in 1955) changed the panorama. Oriente, financed in its first period by YPFB, won its first local professional title in 1969 and was the first Santa Cruz team to win a national title (1971). In the professional era, Blooming and Oriente progressively became the most powerful teams in Santa Cruz and became the two great rivals. Since those years, they have been facing each other in the so-called Superclásico, which is considered one of the best classics in the country and one of the best in the world due to its intensity. This classic is ranked 49th in the ranking of the best 50 classics in the world, prepared by the English magazine FourFourTwo.

Blooming - One of the first teams from Santa Cruz to play abroad

 Precisely in 1963, as the best team of the moment (they would be crowned champions months after that trip), they received an invitation to play an international match abroad against Guaraní of Paraguay. It was one of the first teams from Santa Cruz to play outside the country. It had been preceded by Florida. Despite the adverse result (1-5 in favor of Guaraní), it was a milestone in Santa Cruz soccer, which was on the verge of professionalism.

La delegación de Blooming se apresta a abordar el avión enviado por la presidencia del Paraguay para viajar a Asunción a disputar un encuentro internacional con Guaraní.

Conmebol Libertadores: The Strongest 2 - 1 Universidad Catolica de Ecuador, The Strongest Qualifies

 With a saving goal by Uruguayan Rodrigo Amaral, The Strongest advanced to the group stage of the 2022 Copa Libertadores by beating Ecuador's Universidad Católica 2-1 in La Paz, in the second leg of the third round of the continental tournament.

Enrique Triverio opened the scoring for the home side after 2 minutes and Ismael Díaz equalized for Católica after 7 minutes in a match played at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz. The talented Rodrigo Amaral gave the victory to the 'Tigre de Achumani' in the 83rd minute.

The series ended 2-1 in favor of The Strongest, as the first leg was a scoreless draw in Quito. Universidad Católica of Ecuador will go on to play in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana.

The match kicked off for The Strongest with a goal scored by Enrique Triverio after connecting with a rebound in the Ecuadorian box following a cross from the right.

The home side's goal was a spur for the visitors to raise their game based on speed. The match gained in intensity. So much so that in the seventh minute, Panama's Ismael Diaz took advantage of a lapse of concentration by the Bolivian defense to score the equalizer.

The game became back and forth and both teams began to reach the opponent's goal with a permanent sense of danger. Before the 20th minute, the two scorers again had opportunities to increase the score.

The Ecuadorians were more ductile in the management of the soccer circuits, which provided greater depth to their game, particularly when the attackers established partnerships. In contrast, the Aurinegros relied more on the performance of individuals such as Henry Vaca, who did not shine tonight.

As the minutes passed, the Ecuadorians lost precision, leaving the locals to re-establish a modest dominance and appeal to long distance shots.

The ball moved away from the goals and play became centralized in the midfield. In the 40th minute, Triverio again had another chance to score, but it was well saved by goalkeeper José Cárdenas.

The second half repeated the concepts of intensity and balance between the two teams, although with the lively desire to avoid the penalty spot.

The 'camarata' showed their experience in the defensive arts and managed to box in the locals, who appeared to be short of ideas. With the clock running down, The Strongest insisted with long distance shots.

Gradually, the Ecuadorians were losing lucidity to reach Guillermo Vizcarra's goal.

Although in a disorganized way, The Strongest looked for the victory and when the match was entering the final stretch, Rodrigo Amaral scored the celebrated goal in the 83rd minute that gave the popular team from La Paz the qualification. 

Conmebol Sudamericana: Guabira 3 - 0 Wilstermann, Wilstermann Qualifies

 On Thursday, the Azucareros defeated the Aviadores with goals by Kevin Mina (20' and 50') and Layonel Figueroa (90+3). The match was played at the Gilberto Parada stadium in Montero. The 4-0 win in the first leg favored the cochabambinos.

Guabirá was one goal away from a place in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana on penalties against Wilstermann.

The Azucareros defeated the Aviadores 3-0 on Thursday in Montero in a rematch of the first phase of this Conmebol tournament, but it was not enough due to the 4-0 defeat of the team from Cochabamba in the first leg.

Mauricio Soria made his debut as coach of the northern side with a victory. His team showed a different attitude to the one they played last week.

Kevin Mina recovered his memory. The Ecuadorian goal scorer scored at 20' and 50'. Laayonel Figueroa closed the scoring with three minutes left in the second half (90+3).

The goal difference (+1) saved Wilstermann from a defeat that could have been embarrassing due to their poor performance at the Gilberto Parada.

On few occasions did they reach goalkeeper Elder Arauz and that was a testament to how little they did offensively.

The qualification to the group stage is an incentive for the Reds from Cochabamba, who will also receive a prize of US$ 900,000.

On March 25, the opponents they will face in the next stage of the tournament will be announced.

Wilster goes for the pass against a Guabirá that dreams of the feat

  Wilstermann will seek to seal its qualification to the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana today (20:30), aware that the 4-0 difference from the first leg gives it an advantage, but does not yet give it the ticket, as Guabirá will try to achieve the feat at the Gilberto Parada stadium in Montero.

"The key is not closed. We must play this match as if it were the first leg", were the words of Wilstermann's technical director, Miguel Ponce, to make it clear that there are still 90 minutes left to ensure the qualification to the group stage and to get the prize of 900 thousand dollars that will give economic stability to the club.

Meanwhile, in Guabirá the motto is "he who fights is not dead". Luis Enrique Hurtado, one of the captains of the Azucarero, said that it is true that "the disadvantage is high, but that does not take away our dream of qualifying, so we will fight from the first minute of the match".

In Wilstermann it is almost a fact that the Chilean tactician will not change the game plan or the starting eleven with which he achieved a 4-0 victory in the first leg, played at the Félix Capriles stadium.

Ponce will have his full potential at his disposal, after he decided to take care of some players who had some muscular fatigue and did not want to risk them in the Cochabamba derby, a match in which Aurora beat Wilstermann 1-0.

In the previous days, the Aviator could not work normally in its complex of the Alalay lagoon due to the heavy rains that were registered in Cochabamba. It was precisely because of this issue that the team brought forward the trip to Santa Cruz to midday yesterday to be able to work in the afternoon on Santa Cruz soil.

In Guabirá, the defeat suffered in Cochabamba for the Sudamericana, added to the bad results in the local tournament (two draws in five matches), caused the departure of coach Víctor Hugo "Tucho" Antelo and his place was taken by Mauricio Soria, who took the reins of the team this Monday.

Without much time to work, Soria will probably decide not to make many changes in the team for the second leg, although it was announced from Montero that one possible change could be the entry of Gustavo Peredo to replace Hurtado.

Guabirá is aware that only a 5-0 victory could give them direct qualification. A 4-0 victory will take the ticket to penalties.

A Guabirá win by a difference of less than 4 goals will give Wilstermann the qualification.

El Tigre goes for the group stage and US$ 3 MM in "the match of the year".

 The atigrados have the advantage of the 0-0 draw they achieved in the first leg in Quito. Despite this, the coaches agreed that the key is open. The Catholics closed practice in Tembladerani yesterday.

The Strongest players described tonight's match against Universidad Católica of Ecuador at the Hernando Siles stadium as "the match of the year" (20:30), in which the Achumani team will be looking for the three million dollar prize for entering the group stage of the Copa Libertadores.

To achieve their objective, the atigrados need a victory, no matter the score, after the first leg, played last week in Quito, they drew 0-0.

The Ecuadorians have the same chances, as they are obliged to win, since a draw will force the match to be decided by penalty kicks.

The Achumani tigers assured that they are focused on the duel despite the defeat in the local tournament against Bolívar, their traditional rival, and are only thinking about getting the three points.

Coach Cristian Díaz will not be able to count on two important players, Cristian Esparza and Martín Prost, both due to expulsion. Their replacements will be Henry Vaca and Jaime Arrascaita. In addition, according to what was seen at the end of training sessions, Diego Wayar will be used as right fullback, as he did in the rematch of the previous phase against Plaza Colonia.

"The key is open... We know their strengths and weaknesses, so we will try to play a great game in search of qualification. We are facing a great team, we must not get our message and our emotional preparation wrong," said the Argentine coach at a press conference yesterday.

He pointed out that his side has to keep its feet on the ground. "We are facing a very good and very nice opportunity for the club in the institutional and economic issue," he remarked.

The paceños are concentrated in their complex in the South zone of La Paz and the day before they closed their preparations. 

The Catholic team arrived in the country on Monday night and the day before had the opportunity to work at the Bolivar club's field in Tembladerani.

"A couple of players have yet to be defined.... We have seen the classic and the matches played against Plaza Colonia. We know that it will be a difficult match against a quality team", said coach Miguel Rondelli.

He considers that in spite of the casualties that the atigrados suffered, the local team has a team to respect.

"We will play our game, the key is open. I don't think they will attack from the start because they know that we are dangerous on the counter-attack", said the coach from Rio de Janeiro.

The Ecuadorian absentees are Darwin Cuero and José Carabalí, both ended up with injuries after the duel at the Atahualpa stadium, but the goalkeeper arrived in Bolivia.