Bolivia 1 - Peru 1

Photo by Cris Bouroncle

Lima was the site of the final match of FIFA World Cup qualifying for the month of October 2013.  After all the meaningful matches being played today, it was anticlimactic to finish with Peru's home match against Bolivia, but that's the way it goes sometimes.  There was an eerie lack of atmosphere because Peru were banned from having fans present for this home qualifier.  A quick pass forward by Carlos Lobaton off a pass backward by Juan Vargas caught the Bolivia backline unprepared.  Yoshimar Yotun took the through ball and scored to give Peru a 1-0 lead.  Carlos Zambrano had a chance to double the lead, but he pulled his shot wide after making a solo run into space of over thirty yards.  Teenager Christian Benavente nearly scored his second goal for Peru, but his shot was blocked off the crossbar by Marvin Bejarano.  Benavente started a three-versus-one counterattack, but with the goalkeeper at their mercy, Vargas took a heavy touch and the break fell apart.  In stoppage time, Marcelo Martins (pictured, green #9) took a curling, dipping shot that forced Peru goalkeeper Diego Penny into a diving save.  The long rebound was floated into the goal by Diego Bejarano.  The score was tied 1-1 at the conclusion of the first forty-five.

Peru were the only side to create a chance in the second half of the match.  Their best opportunity came from a Claudio Pizarro through ball into for Yordy Reyna.  Reyna beat two Bolivians in a foot race, but his shot could not defeat the crossbar.  Bolivia had only one chance in the match, but they took it.  Bolivia therefore steal a 1-1 draw on the road.

Argentina 32 pts IN
Colombia 30 pts IN
Chile 28 pts IN
Ecuador 25 pts +4 IN
Uruguay 25 pts 0
Venezuela OUT
Peru OUT
Bolivia OUT
Paraguay OUT

Goals
Peru
Yoshimar Yotun 19

Bolivia
Diego Bejarano 45+2

Match Reports:
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/October/16/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-peru-1-bolivia-1/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkM68p84QAI