Explore Bolivia’s remarkable triumph over Colombia in the World Cup Qualifier, where grit and Terceros’ magic secured a 1-0 victory. Read more about this match.
Introduction:
That was a match Bolivia will never forget: an inspiring display of resilience and skill in defeating Colombia 1-0 in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: a place they won with that game, which they played out with just 10 men on the pitch after going down to 10 men in the first half of play. With that well-deserved win, they now sit on 12 points from nine games.
Thirdos: Bolivia’s Next Big Thing
Within a short period of time, Miguel Terceros has become a household name in Bolivian football. His match-winning goal against Colombia was the third successive international goal for La Verde, which proved him emerging brightly on the world scene. As a 20-year-old forward, he has turned into the crux of Bolivia’s World Cup qualifying campaign as he is earning his value by scoring in crucial moments of matches.
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And then, in the 66th minute, Terceros broke through with pure magic. The game seemed one-sided after he received the ball on the right side, beating two Colombian defenders off it with some nice footwork, before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed strike into the net’s top-left angle. The goal underlined not only Terceros’ growing reputation as one of South America’s brightest youngsters but was enough to seal the win.
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Early Setback: Cuellar’s Red Card
Bolivia’s strife to achieve victory was not without dramatic twists as it opened the game with much more vigor, but in the 20th minute, that saw the wake of change as Héctor Cuellar went reckless and fouled Roger Martínez; thus, he was red-carded and sent off, leaving Bolivia to play the remaining 70 minutes with 10 men on the field.

Colombia sensed the opportunity and started to relentlessly apply the pressure wave after wave of attacks on the Bolivian defense. However, marshaled in front of his goal by goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra, Bolivia’s defense held firm. Despite being outnumbered, Bolivia was able to keep Colombia at bay, and crucial saves by Viscarra kept the game level.
Moment of Brilliance by Terceros
Bolivia were clearly not having it easy out there, having been on the receiving end of many of Colombia’s attacks throughout much of the first half. All of that changed in the second half as Bolivia gained their composure, and with Terceros out front, they were really able to look for space on the counterattack. His goal in the 66th was a defining moment not only in this match but in the entirety of Bolivia’s qualifying campaign.
Colombia visibly shook after that goal, forcing for an equalizer but Bolivia’s defense was resolute for that one hour, with Bolivian attacks swift by their defense or Guillermo Viscarra who played probably one of the best games in his career.
Guillermo Viscarra: The Unsung Hero
While Terceros was taking all the headlines with that wonder goal, however, Bolivia was not going to have won that without a super effort from their goalkeeper, Guillermo Viscarra, whose quick reflexes and positioning prevented the potent attack of Colombia from plunging into his net, with several key saves that secured the lead of Bolivia. All those Colombian forwards were time and again left frustrated by Viscarra, and in the end, that secured all three points for Bolivia to take home.
Viscarra’s heroics for the team in goals, coupled with the disciplined defending of his backline, proved to be too much for Colombia, who could not find a way through in the final stages of the match.
Bolivia’s Qualifying Campaign: A Promising Run
Bolivia have gained 12 points from nine matches to date and are well placed in the race for qualification to the World Cup. This is their third consecutive win after a win over Peru and then again over Chile regaining some fresh wind in an otherwise slow-starting campaign. Being as they recovered in this match, Bolivia will definitely remain much more confident than before while continuing their efforts toward qualification.
So, Terceros and Viscarra’s great show has once again brought hope in the minds of the fans in Bolivia, and the team would hope to take this form forward in the next rounds of matches.
Struggle Continues for Colombia
Loss is yet another bane for Colombia as their qualifying campaign seems to hit one roadblock after another. Though they enjoyed much of the game with the advantage of numbers, they could not break Bolivia’s well-flocked defense. Chances were there, but Colombia’s attack force led by Martínez and Luis Díaz failed to imprint the strikes with crucial cutting edge to convert them into real strikes.
Colombia thus has a stiff test, to regroup and look for consistency in upcoming games. Its failure to take full advantage of Bolivia’s red card and subsequently being unable to get points will be a concern for the coaching staff and fans.
Conclusion: A Top-Notch Victory
Bolivia’s 1-0 victory over Colombia was absolute masterpiece of resilience, discipline and personal brilliance. Bolivia never lost faith and was well-rewarded with a much-needed win, despite having started on the backfoot when they were reduced to 10 men early in the match. Miguel Terceros gave the nation something to talk about, and Guillermo Viscarra’s Herculean goalkeeping ensured Bolivia’s status as a team that will really make their mark on the journey to the FIFA World Cup 2026. As La Verde continues their qualifying campaign, they will look to build on this momentum to ensure a spot in the world.