RIO DE JANEIRO, 3 June 2004 — Bolivia, Chile and Peru put themselves back in the hunt for places at the 2006 World Cup finals with qualifying victories on Tuesday.
Paraguay’s 20-day preparations for their high-altitude clash were wasted as they went down 2-1 to Bolivia in La Paz, Chile ended Venezuela’s romantic run with a 1-0 win and Peru condemned Uruguay to a second successive defeat at home.
Peru triumphed 3-1 at Montevideo’s historic and once impregnable Centenario stadium where Venezuela had run out 3-0 winners in March.
The results left Chile and Paraguay with 10 points from six games, Venezuela with nine, Peru eight, Uruguay seven and Bolivia six.
Argentina, who lead the qualifying table with 11 points from five games, were to meet Brazil, who have nine, in Belo Horizonte the next day while Ecuador and Colombia, both on four points, clash in Quito.
The top four teams qualify directly for the World Cup and the fifth plays off against the Oceania region winners.
Bolivia, whose chances depend heavily on winning matches in La Paz at 3,600 meters above sea level, gave veteran coach Ramiro Blacut a perfect start to his third stint in charge.
A diving header by Roger Suarez in the second half secured the points for Bolivia, who were reduced to 10 men when Juan Manuel Pena was sent off for violent conduct.
Venezuela, who had enjoyed an unprecedented run of wins, were brought down to earth on a wet night in San Cristobal.
Uruguay’s defeat against Venezuela cost flamboyant coach Juan Ramon Carrasco his job but debutant Jorge Fossati fared little better on Tuesday. The hosts made a bright start but were knocked off course by Nolberto Solano’s curling free kick for Peru in the 12th minute.
Claudio Pizarro scored on the break seven minutes later, then Uruguay had defender Gonzalo Sorondo sent off for hacking down, treading on and spitting at Roberto Palacios. Peru repeatedly broke through the Uruguay defense but wasted their chances until Jefferson Farfan made it 3-0 in the second half. Diego Forlan headed the consolation goal for the sad Uruguayans.
Australia Strengthen Grip as New Zealand Lose
In Sydney, a hat trick by Millwall midfielder Tim Cahill helped Australia thump Fiji 6-1 yesterday and stretch their lead in the Oceania World Cup qualifiers after their main rivals New Zealand lost to Vanuatu.
Vanuatu, who had failed to score a goal in their two previous pool matches, pulled off the upset of the tournament with a 4-2 win over the Kiwis in Adelaide.
The result allowed the Solomon Islands to leapfrog New Zealand and Fiji into second place on the standings following their 4-0 win over Tahiti, leaving the group wide open with two matches to play.
The top two teams from the six-nation round-robin event play each other home and away next year to decide who will represent Oceania in a two-leg playoff against the fifth team from South America for a place in the World Cup.
New Zealand paid a heavy price for their poor finishing when Henry Faarodo scored against the run of play to give his side a surprise 1-0 lead at halftime. The Kiwis seemed to have regained their composure when substitute striker Vaughan Coveny leveled in the 61st minute but Vanuatu replied with two quick goals from Lexa Bule Bibi and Jean Emmanuel Maleb to open up a 3-1 lead.
Commins Menapi scored a goal in each half of the Solomon Island’s 4-0 rout over Tahiti after Henry Faarodo and Batram Suri also found the back of the net in the first term.
