Football / World Cup USA '94: Cristaldo sent off as Bolivia keep out Koreans

Bolivia. . . . . . .0

South Korea. . . . .0

THE 17th match produced the first no-score draw of the World Cup finals here last night, although a goal was all that was missing from a Group C match in which play lurched from end to end and Bolivia had Luis Cristaldo sent off eight minutes from time.

A sizeable chunk of La Paz seemed to have decamped to the Boston area, their red, green and gold flags dominating the stands on a balmy evening.

Bolivia were first to threaten in the 17th minute, when Julio Cesar Baldivieso headed wide. Poor Baldivieso: he was soon cautioned by a fussy Scottish referee, Les Mottram, for a foul on Hwang Sun Hong. Like Marco Etcheverry, harshly dismissed against Germany, he now misses the last group game against Spain.

Seo Jung Won had two opportunities to add to his 21 goals for South Korea, but his shooting was a wayward reminder of why some Americans would like to see bigger goals. Carlos Trucco, the Bolivian keeper, then tried to dribble round Kim Joo Sung and was relieved to see the ball ricochet to safety off his challenger.

Erwin Sanchez had been carried off after a collision with Hwang Sun Hong, but returned to try and break Bolivia's 64-year scoring duck in the finals with a free-kick which Choi In Young saved athletically. Undaunted, Sanchez continued to unleash long-range efforts. Yet the quicker Koreans, often revealing exceptional touch, came closer still when Seo Jung Won finished a lightning counter-attack with a goalbound shot that Trucco fumbled aside for a corner.

Fortunately for Bolivia, Trucco spotted the danger as Hwang Sun Hong exploited a defender's stumble, leaving his area to complete the clearance. Back came the South Americans, with Baldivieso's composure deserting him at the vital moment.

Mottram banished Cristaldo after a trip on Kim Pan Keun and this time there was no doubting the decision.

BOLIVIA (4-4-2): Trucco; Sandy, Rimba (all Bolivar), Quinteros (The Strongest), Borga; Cristaldo (both Bolivar), Melgar (The Strongest), Soria, Baldivieso (both Bolivar); Ramallo (Oriente Petrolero), E Sanchez (Boavista). Substitute: A Pena (Temuco) for Ramallo, 66.

SOUTH KOREA (4-5-1): Choi In Young (Hyundai Horang-I); Kim Pan Keun (Lucky Goldstar Cheetahs), Park Jung Bae (Daewoo Royals), Shin Hong Gi (Hyundai Horang-I), Hong Myung Bo (POSCO Atoms); Lee Young Jin (Lucky Goldstar Cheetahs), Noh Jung Yoon (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kim Joo Sung (VfL Bochum), Ko Jeong Woon (Ilhwa Chonma), Seo Jung Won (Lucky Goldstar Cheetahs); Hwang Sun Hong (POSCO Atoms). Substitutes: Ha Seok Ju (Daewoo Royals) for Seo Jung Won, 65; Choi Yung Il (Hyundai Horang-I) for Noh Jung Yoon, 70.

Referee: L Mottram (Scotland).