Lionel Messi shone with the Albiceleste, but Sergio Batista's boys could never tame Gustavo Quintero's Bolivians.
Who could have expected Edivaldo Rojas to score the first goal in the Copa America? Bolivia played an excellent defensive game throughout the first 45 minutes, denying Lionel Messi every attempt to venture on Bolivian ground.
Batista's original scheme lasted only 45 minutes. His ideal of building a team around Lionel Messi with a "defined Plan B to avoid personal marks" was a complete failure. Unable to keep up with the pace of the game, Internazionale's Esteban Cambiasso made room for Angel Di Maria, allowing Carlos Tevez to focus on the attack while maintaining the same aggressive control on the wings.
The game took a radical twist at the beginning of the second half, when Ever Banega failed to clear a ball left bouncing inside the box and let Rojas to open the score with a shy shot.
Marcelo Martins could have delivered the fatal blow 15 minutes later, but Sergio Romero was formidable and kept the ball. Sergio Aguero injected Argentina with a renewed spirit. El Kun took over Ezequiel Lavezzi's place, who was exhausted after endless runs from the wings.
Kun's fresh legs gave Argentina a major advantage in the last 20 minutes of the game, finding the equalizer with a marvelous shot from over 12 yards. His partnership with Angel Di Maria, a perfect mix of speed and deadly efficiency could be just what Batista needs to fuel his Messi-based strategy with an alternative power source.
Bolivia's coach showed great understanding of the game, with great skills to asphyxiate their rivals and force them to take false steps. Lionel Messi was always under the watch of at least one Bolivian defender, while Marcelo Martins always knew how to find his place to lead the counter attack.
Costa Rica and Colombia must take full advantage of Argentina's misstep as they meet each other on the field this Saturday, with the top position of the group at stake.
Batista's original scheme lasted only 45 minutes. His ideal of building a team around Lionel Messi with a "defined Plan B to avoid personal marks" was a complete failure. Unable to keep up with the pace of the game, Internazionale's Esteban Cambiasso made room for Angel Di Maria, allowing Carlos Tevez to focus on the attack while maintaining the same aggressive control on the wings.
The game took a radical twist at the beginning of the second half, when Ever Banega failed to clear a ball left bouncing inside the box and let Rojas to open the score with a shy shot.
Marcelo Martins could have delivered the fatal blow 15 minutes later, but Sergio Romero was formidable and kept the ball. Sergio Aguero injected Argentina with a renewed spirit. El Kun took over Ezequiel Lavezzi's place, who was exhausted after endless runs from the wings.
Kun's fresh legs gave Argentina a major advantage in the last 20 minutes of the game, finding the equalizer with a marvelous shot from over 12 yards. His partnership with Angel Di Maria, a perfect mix of speed and deadly efficiency could be just what Batista needs to fuel his Messi-based strategy with an alternative power source.
Bolivia's coach showed great understanding of the game, with great skills to asphyxiate their rivals and force them to take false steps. Lionel Messi was always under the watch of at least one Bolivian defender, while Marcelo Martins always knew how to find his place to lead the counter attack.
Costa Rica and Colombia must take full advantage of Argentina's misstep as they meet each other on the field this Saturday, with the top position of the group at stake.
