Bolivia battle back to set up Iraq showdown
Bolivia came from behind to defeat Suriname at Monterrey Stadium and set up an enticing FIFA Play-off Tournament final with Iraq.
Path B Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey
Bolivia goals: Paniagua (72), Terceros pen (79) Suriname goal: Van Gelderen (48)
Miguel Terceros proved Bolivia's hero once again as they came from behind to dispatch a plucky Suriname team thanks to two goals in seven second-half minutes.
Oscar Villegas's men showed their character after going a goal down to set up a highly-anticipated FIFA Play-Off Tournament final with Iraq on Tuesday, with a place in the global finals on the line. Bolivia's dream of returning to the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since USA 1994 remains alive.
For much of this clash at a packed Monterrey Stadium, it appeared as if their Concacaf opponents would edge the encounter. After a cagey start, the game opened up in the 29th minute when Suriname forward Joel Piroe blazed wide after a neat pass from Gyrano Kerk. Bolivia were then forced to rely on goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra to keep them in the game, as he made a desperate, diving point-blank save from Leo Abena.
Suriname continued where they left off after the break and opened the scoring in the 48th minute, when Liam van Gelderen converted at the second attempt from close range after the Boliva defence failed to deal with a shot from Melayro Bogarde.
Bolivia refused to go down without a fight, though, and levelled the scores through 18-year-old substitute Moises Paniagua, who struck the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot for his first international goal. The South Americans continued to push and were awarded a penalty after a blunder from Abena. Terceros stepped up to score his eighth goal of the qualifying campaign and settle the showdown.
"It has been a difficult match. We knew that it was going to be like that. They are a physical team. We were losing first but thank God we were able to find the goal and I think the team did a great job. We generated a lot of scoring chances and that is something very positive." Ramiro Vaca, Bolivia player