Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez. (Photo : Getty Images)
The 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament for CONMEBOL continues as struggling teams Bolivia (1-3-0, 3 points) and Colombia (1-2-1, 4 points) takes on each other in a matchday 5 game at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia on Thursday, March 24th.
Both teams will try to earn their second wins of the competitions and revive each one's World Cup campaigns after finishing matchday 4 in November of last year with only one victory to boot.
Bolivia dropped a disappointing 1-2 decision in the hands of Paraguay at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay on Nov. 17th of last year, as reported by Goal.
Bolivian striker Yasmani Duk, who is currently playing for North American Soccer League squad New York Cosmos, scored the opening goal at the 59th minute for La Verde after both teams were unable to break the deadlock in the whole first half of the match.
However, the lead was short-lived as Paraguay answered with two quick goals courtesy of forward Dario Lezcano and striker Lucas Barrios who found the back of Romel Quinonez's net at the 61st and 64th minutes respectively.
With their lead erased, Julio Cesar Baldivieso's men were not able to find an equalizer until time expired as they settled for their third loss of the qualifiers.
The team's only win so far came from a 4-2 decision over Venezuela in matchday 3 at their home field of Estadio Hernando Siles.
Meanwhile, Colombia was nipped by a Lionel Messi-less Argentina eleven, 0-1, in their matchday 4 game at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia also on Nov. 17th of last year, as per ESPN.
It was the second loss of Los Cafeteros in the tourney after opening it with a 2-0 win over Peru in matchday 1 while the team handed world no. 2-ranked Argentina their first win in the qualifiers.
Argentine defensive midfielder Lucas Biglia of Italian club SS Lazio scored the lone goal of the match for La Albiceleste at the 19th minute, which was not responded to by José Pékerman's side.
Colombia is currently at the seventh spot of the standings while Bolivia settles one spot below at eighth.
The predicted result is a 3-1 win for Colombia.
Bolivia starting lineup (5-3-2 formation): Quinonez; Flores, Zenteno, Marteli, Eguino, Di. Bejarano; Chumacero, Veizaga, Da. Bejarano; Campos, Ramallo
Colombia starting lineup (4-2-2-2 formation): Ospina; Palacios, Zapata, Murillo, Fabra; Mejia, D. Torres; M. Torres, Rodriguez; Bacca, Gutierrez
