Bolivia 1 - Argentina 1

Bolivia hoped a match in their high-altitude palace in La Paz would be enough to garner another famous result against CONMEBOL leaders Argentina like the 6-1 victory they had over the Albiceleste in 2009.  Bolivia fullback Diego Bejarano made an early foray forward, but Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made a close-range save to deny Bolivia the early goal.  Argentina nearly scored when Angel di Maria laid off on a two-on-one break for Rodrigo Palazio, but Bolivia goalkeeper Sergio Galarza come off his line quickly and stopped the shot.  Twenty-five minutes into the match, Bolivia looked on their way to another upset of Argentina at altitude.  Alejandro Chumacero swung in a cross from the right side that floated just over the head of Argentina defender Hugo Campagnaro and onto the skilled head of Marcelo Martins, who nodded the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead to Bolivia.  Clemente Rodriguez sent in a cross to the Bolivian penalty spot in the penultimate minute of the half.  Ever Banega had to stop his momentum and back track in order to be in position for the header, which made the resulting power he put on his shot all the more remarkable as he scored the equalizer.  1-1 was the halftime score.

Banega almost put Argentina ahead, but Galarza made an acrobatic save to deny the goal.  With thirteen minutes left in the match, Lionel Messi (pictured, blue) struck a marvelous free kick to the far post that Galarza somehow reached with an outstretched hand on another all-out dive.  Messi had a solo opportunity against Galarza following his block of an outlet pass, but Messi could not shoot under an oncoming Galarza, who clearly earned man-of-the-match honors on this day.  The match ends in a 1-1 draw.

Goals
Bolivia
Marcelo Martins 25

Argentina
Ever Banega 44

Match Reports:
http://int.soccerway.com/news/2013/March/26/conmebol-world-cup-qualifying-bolivia-1-argentina-1/
http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/97310/bolivia-vs-argentina/report
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130326/argentina-bolivia-draw-world-cup-qualifiers/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THdOjnTE_wc