The Bolivian team tied with Panama in a friendly match played with a view to the play-off that the “Green” will play in March to have a place in the 2026 World Cup.
The Central Americans are already classified while the South Americans seek to prepare to face Suriname in March in the FIFA international playoff.
The Panama team began dominating the match in Tarija with some quick arrivals at Carlos Emilio Lampe’s goal that unbalanced the local defense.
Kadir Barría, striker for Brazilian Botafogo, scored the first goal for the Panamanians in the 4th minute, after a pass from midfield by Kahiser Lenis, he evaded three Bolivian players and goalkeeper Lampe and then scored with a soft and unmarked hit.
For its part, the Bolivian squad carried out the first half with a lukewarm game, two corner kicks at 19 and 21 minutes were wasted by the “altiplanicos” who shot far from the small area of the Panamanian aequero Eddie Roberts.
The first dangerous play by the “Green” came later with a sequence of shots and rebounds by Bruno Miranda and Erwin Vaca that were ultimately unsuccessful.
Carlos Melgar also approached the rival goal in a solo play but was unable to control the ball until he met goalkeeper Roberts who secured the ball in his hands.
In the second half, although Panama dominated the game, it was Robson Matheus who broke that rhythm with a strong shot from the large area, but the ball grazed the crossbar.
The Bolivian tie came 68 minutes into the second half, with an indirect free kick by Ramiro Vaca, which Melgar headed so that Richet Gómez finally pushed the ball into the “canalaero” goal.
Almost at the end of the match, Ramiro Vaca left the fans breathless with a devastating shot that went straight to the center of the goal until goalkeeper Roberts blocked it and the ball deflected off the crossbar.
This is how they aligned
– Bolivia (1): Carlos Lampe; Diego Arroyo (Robson Matheus, min. 41), Richet Gómez, Moisés Villarroel (Máximo Mamani, min.59); Ramiro Vaca, Fernando Nava, Luis Paz; Erwin Vaca, Lucas Macazaga, Bruno Miranda (William Álvarez, min.77), Carlos Melgar.
– DT: Oscar Villegas.
– Panama (1): Eddie Roberts; Abdul Knight, Ricardo Phillips (Giovany Herbert, min. 46), Omar Córdoba (Luis Asprilla, min.46), Jorge Gutiérrez, Kadir Barría (Ángel Caicedo, min.59); Kahiser Lenis (Gustavo Herrera, min.59), José Murillo (Jovani Welch, min.46), Ariel Arroyo, Javier Rivera; Orman Davis (Richard Peralta, min.67).
– DT: Thomas Christiansen (Spanish of Danish origin).
– Goals: 0-1, m.4: Kadir Barría, 1-1, m. 68: Richet Gómez.
– Referee: Brazilian Bruno Arleu cautioned Ricardo Phillips (min.29), Jorge Gutiérrez (min.45), Abdul Knight (min.82) for Panama; Lucas Macazaga (min. 75) for Bolivia.
– Stadium: IV Centenario, located in the southern city of Tarija.
