CHICLAYO, 8 July 2004 — Peru substitute Roberto Palacios produced a spectacular volley to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Copa America hosts against outsiders Bolivia on the opening day of the tournament on Tuesday.
In the day’s other Group A encounter, Venezuela were on the wrong end of two controversial decisions in their 1-0 defeat by defending champions Colombia.
Palacios, a stalwart for the last decade in the Peru team, was surprisingly left on the substitutes bench by coach Paulo Autuori but Peru were dismal in his absence, apparently suffering a bout of stage fright.
Bolivia, who rarely offer much of a threat away from the high altitude of La Paz where they play their home matches, went 2-0 ahead in under an hour as they capitalized on Peruvian nerves.
Joaquin Botero put them ahead in the first half on the break before Lorgio Alvarez pounced on a blunder by Peru keeper Oscar Ibanez.
Ibanez rushed out his area to try and clear the ball, mistimed his effort and Alvarez dribbled round him to score from an apparently impossible angle in the 57th minute.
Palacios replaced a tired-looking Nolberto Solano almost immediately and within six minutes, Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro reduced the arrears from the penalty spot.
Palacios completed the comeback when he flicked the ball up with his right foot and volleyed home with his left with four minutes to play, an inspired effort in the midst of Peruvian desperation.
The match was the second half of a double bill in Lima’s National Stadium.
Colombia kicked off the tournament with a fortuitous victory over neighbors after Tressor Moreno slotted home a penalty midway through the first half.
Brazilian referee Marcio Rezende de Freitas awarded the spot kick after Gilberto Angelucci brought down Moreno but television replays suggested the Colombian began his fall before contact was made.
Venezuela dominated the second half and had a goal disallowed for offside when Freitas gave the benefit of the doubt to the defending team.
They also found Colombia goalkeeper Juan Carlos Henao in magnificent form. The tournament continues the next day as Mexico face Uruguay in Group B action in Chiclayo, while Argentina meet Ecuador later on the same pitch.
Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe said he feared the Uruguayans would be even more physical than usual as they attempt to make amends for their dismal recent form.
Ominously for Mexico, Uruguay defender Paolo Montero, who has smashed records for red cards and suspensions in Italy’s Serie A where he plays for Juventus, will make his international comeback after a two-year absence. Former Argentina coaches Carlos Bilardo and Cesar Luis Menotti will both be among the crowd as Argentina face Ecuador.
South African Police Arrest 27 in Football Match-Fixing Scandal
In Johannesburg, South African police have arrested a total of 27 football officials and referees since reports of a match-fixing scandal surfaced almost a month ago, a spokesman said yesterday.
“Today (Wednesday) we arrested three referees from the Premier Soccer League and one retired referee now employed by the South African Football Association (SAFA) who was responsible for appointing referees in the Vodacom League, which is the Third Division,” Senior Superintendent Selby Bokaba told AFP.
“The total number of people arrested is 27 and 90 percent of those people arrested are referees.”
The police’s Operation Dribble started almost a month ago following news reports that SAFA President Molefi Olifant had called for an investigation into claims of bribery and corruption in April.
