Big loss to Argentina against Bolivia (6-1)
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:54 pmBy Dan Baynes
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bolivia handed Argentina its biggest soccer loss in half a century with a 6-1 World Cup qualifying victory that ended Diego Maradona’s perfect record as coach.
Striker Joaquin Botero scored three goals in La Paz yesterday as Argentina slumped to its heaviest defeat since losing by the same score to Czechoslovakia at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Marcelo Martins, Didi Torrico and Alex da Rosa added the other goals.
“Every Bolivia goal was a stab in my heart,” Clarin newspaper cited Maradona as saying at a news conference.
The defeat, which came four days after a 4-0 win over Venezuela, was Argentina’s first since former national team captain and playing icon Maradona’s appointment in November. Argentina, which last failed to reach the World Cup in 1970, slipped to fourth in a South American group headed by Paraguay from which four qualify for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Botero, who plays in Mexico’s second division, got his first goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and added a second-half double to complete his hat-trick.
Martins had put the home team ahead in the 11th minute before Luis Gonzalez scored the visitor’s only goal to tie it 14 minutes later. Argentina had Angel di Maria red-carded in the second half, seven minutes after he came on as a substitute.
“We have to give merit to Bolivia who were better than us in every part of the field,” Maradona, 48, said. “They beat us well and now we have to start all over again.”
Check the source for the full report
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... in_america
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bolivia handed Argentina its biggest soccer loss in half a century with a 6-1 World Cup qualifying victory that ended Diego Maradona’s perfect record as coach.
Striker Joaquin Botero scored three goals in La Paz yesterday as Argentina slumped to its heaviest defeat since losing by the same score to Czechoslovakia at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Marcelo Martins, Didi Torrico and Alex da Rosa added the other goals.
“Every Bolivia goal was a stab in my heart,” Clarin newspaper cited Maradona as saying at a news conference.
The defeat, which came four days after a 4-0 win over Venezuela, was Argentina’s first since former national team captain and playing icon Maradona’s appointment in November. Argentina, which last failed to reach the World Cup in 1970, slipped to fourth in a South American group headed by Paraguay from which four qualify for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Botero, who plays in Mexico’s second division, got his first goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and added a second-half double to complete his hat-trick.
Martins had put the home team ahead in the 11th minute before Luis Gonzalez scored the visitor’s only goal to tie it 14 minutes later. Argentina had Angel di Maria red-carded in the second half, seven minutes after he came on as a substitute.
“We have to give merit to Bolivia who were better than us in every part of the field,” Maradona, 48, said. “They beat us well and now we have to start all over again.”
Check the source for the full report
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... in_america