Midfielder Miguel Terceros was the author of the goal Bolivia who, with one man less, defeated Colombia and took away his undefeated status at more than 4,000 meters of altitude at the El Alto Municipal Stadium. This result represents the third victory in a row for the Green and provisionally climbs to fifth position in the South American qualifiers. World Cup 2026.
Terceros’ goal came in the 58th minute, after a quick counterattack in which they beat two rival players. The first minutes belonged entirely to Bolivia, which advanced its lines and boxed Colombia into its field. The main weapon of the Green were the mid-distance shots of Robson Matheus, Ramiro Vaca and Terceros, who were also the axis of the team led by Óscar Villegas. That strategy ran into an inspired Vargas who smothered shots from the Bolivians that were destined for the net.
Bolivia’s script fell in the 19th minute when Brazilian judge Wilton Sampaio showed Bolivian Héctor Cuéllar a direct red card for a foul against Róger Martínez, who was facing the goal. The Colombian striker had to leave the field due to injury and was replaced by Jhon Córdova. Colombia advanced its ranks and played on the sides behind the Bolivian defenders, but Córdova was not good at sentencing. Bolivia did not resign itself to attacking despite the expulsion and the departure of Jeyson Chura due to injury. In the final stretch of the first half Robson once again finished from a distance, but Vargas, who was already a figure, prevented the Bolivian conquest.
James drives the ball during the match against Bolivia
In the second half, Colombia took the reins and the timing of the game to gain volume of play against the Bolivian team that had a hard time reacting. However, Terceros surprised with a solo play after a lateral and after a dribble that left two Colombian players in the way, he placed the ball in Vargas’s corner.
After the goal, coach Villegas adjusted his scheme as he sent Luis Paz to the field to replace the scorer of the goal to set up a line of five players in the back and play on the counterattack. Colombia put La Verde on the ropes with James Rodríguez as the leader of the coffee game, but those attacks were met with an applied defense and the Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
On the next day, on October 15, Bolivia will visit Argentina and Colombia will host Chile.
TECHNICAL SHEET
1 – Bolivia: Guillermo Viscarra; Diego Medina, Luis Haquín, Marcelo Suárez, José Sagredo; Miguel Terceros (m.67, Luis Paz), Robson Matheus (m.79, Adalid Terrazas), Héctor Cuéllar, Ramiro Vaca, Jeyson Chura (m.30, Gabriel Villamil); Carmelo Algarañaz (m.79, Bruno Miranda).
0 – Colombia: Camilo Vargas; Santiago Arias, Wilter Ditta, Jhon Lucumí, Cristian Borja; Kevin Castaño (d. 62, Jefferson Lerma), Matheus Uribe (d.77, Richard Ríos), Jhon Arias (d.62, Yaer Asprilla), James Rodríguez; Luis Díaz (m.77, Juan Camilo Hernández) and Róger Martínez (m.23, Jhon Córdova).
Goal: 1-0, Miguel Terceros (m. 58)
Referee: Brazilian Wilton Sampaio sent off Cuéllar with a direct red card (20′) and cautioned Castaño and Miranda.
Incidents: match for matchday 9 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the Municipal Stadium of El Alto, in the city of the same name located more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
