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Diciembre 17, 2004
History to Be Made
For the first time in history, a Bolivian club team takes its chances and goes for a major International competition. The La Paz-based team Bolivar is in Buenos Aires for the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana. With only a 1-0 lead, Bolivar will try to avoid a goleada.
In the famed La Bombonera stadium in the Boca neighborhood in the Argentine capital, the sold out home of Boca Juniors will attempt to rattle the Bolivians. However, Bolivar is no stranger to Boca Juniors beating them in La Paz 3-1 and losing 0-3 during the 2004 Copa Libertadores.
Yet, losing the Cup to Bolivians would be even more embarrassing, considering that country's low footballing status.
Five thousand visitor seats were sold to Bolivians living in Argentina, and in order to purchase these tickets proof of Bolivian origin or nationality had to be proven.
This Bolivar team is very different than the team that steamrolled Boca Juniors last February in La Paz. Missing Jose Alfredo Castillo, who scored a hat trick against Boca, and Luis "Gatti" Ribeiro, arguably the best midfielder for Bolivia, they face an uphill battle. The 1-0 victory last week shows that most likely Boca will walk away with the title, but one still has to play the games.
Posted by eduardo at Diciembre 17, 2004 08:44 AM