Preview: Mexico vs. Bolivia at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

When popular coach, Miguel Herrera, sends his Mexico national selection onto the pitch to face Bolivia Tuesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, it will mark the third time in the last eight years that a Mexican national side will have played on the home field of the Colorado Rapids.  

El Tri comes to Commerce City after playing Chile to a scoreless draw last Saturday night before a crowd of 67,000 at brand new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Mexico lost Giovani Dos Santos in the 66th minute to an injury and his status for Tuesday night’s match is uncertain. Francisco Rodriguez was replaced at halftime and his availability for Tuesday is also a question mark.

Bolivia comes to Colorado after a disappointing 4-0 loss to Ecuador on Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Second half goals by Enner Valencia and Junior Sornoza set the stage for a convincing victory for Ecuador.

Kickoff at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids, will be 8 p.m. MDT. For more information on tickets, click here.

SPECIAL OFFER: A two-pack is available, which includes a corner ticket at the Mexico match and a South Endline seat for the Rapids game against San Jose Earthquakes on September 27, available for just $65. To purchase, or for more information, contact a sales representative at 303-825-GOAL.

• Mexico head to Dick's Sporting Goods Park after tie with Chile

Herrera, who with his touchline celebrations captured the attention of the world’s media during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, took over a struggling Mexican squad that barely made it to Brazil and did an admirable job guiding El Tri into the knockout round. He became the focus of media around the globe as one of the most photogenic coaches of the tournament. 

A veteran of 380 appearances in the Mexican professional league, mostly during the 1990’s with Atlante and Neza, Herrera, a former defender, also played for Mexico during the 1993 Copa America. Later he managed Atlante on two occasions and, most recently, led Club America to its 11th Mexican League championship in 2013.

After a disastrous, two-year run in World Cup qualifying, it appeared as though the Mexicans would not make it to Brazil following their last qualifying game. But within an hour or so following that game, the USA scored two late goals against Panama - both of which were not needed for qualification by the USA - and Mexico’s World Cup dreams were instantly brought back to life. 

Headlines all over Mexico the next day screamed: “Thank you America,” referring to Coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s team making it possible for Herrera to then move on and defeat New Zealand in a home-and-away series to secure a spot in Brazil.   

Bolivia Coach Xabier Azkargorta is concentrating on putting a squad together for the Chile-hosted 2015 Copa America. “La Verde,” outshot 13-5 in the loss to No. 21-ranked Ecuador, started 19-year-old Pedro Azogue up front and are trying a lot of new players. Saturday’s game was Bolivia’s first since a loss to Greece in a pre-World Cup training game in June.

Bolivia enters the new international cycle trying to regain the form that enabled the South American nation to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Led by Marco Etcheverry, who later would be a star in Major League Soccer for D.C. United, Bolivia competed in Group C of the tournament and had to play Germany in its opening match, but took the Germans to the limit, losing 1-0 in Chicago. A 0-0 draw with South Korea and a 3-1 loss to Spain ended the ’94 World Cup run. Bolivia later played host to the 1997 Copa America tournament and finished second to Brazil.

A look back: Mexico 5, Bolivia 1 (March 11, 2009, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park):
Bolivia will be looking to avenge a 5-1 loss to Mexico last time out at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, a game played when Mexico was on the verge of beginning qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The dominant win ended a five-game losing streak for Mexico.

Goals from Vicente Vuoso (2), Leandro Agusto, Sergio Santana (PK) and Jose Maria Cardenas put the game away, with Bolivia playing a man down for part of the game. Bolivia’s lone goal came in the 68th minute when minute Didi Torrico dribbled past three defenders and beat goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who likely will return in the nets for Mexico on Tuesday night.

Mexico’s lineup in Saturday night’s 0-0 draw with Chile in Santa Clara, California:
Guillermo Ochoa; Paul Aguilar, Francisco Rodriguez (Hugo Ayala 46'), Miguel Herrera, Oswaldo Alanis, Miguel Ponce (Miguel Layún 65'), Hector Herrera (Javier Aquino 74'), Jose Juan Vazquez (Antonio Ríos Martínez 70'), Andres Guardado (Marco Fabian 80'), Oribe Peralta, Giovani Dos Santos (Javier Orozco 66').

Bolivia’s lineup in Saturday night’s 4-0 loss to Ecuador in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida:
Romel Quinonez; Ronald Raldés, Alejandro Melean, Ramiro Ballivian (Danny Bejarano 46'), Marvin Bejarano; Ronald Equino, Raúl Castro (Rudy Cardozo 63'), Gualberto Mojica (Leandro Maygua 46'), José Chavez (Alejandro Chumacero 76'); Carlos Saucedo (Daniel Chávez 46'), Pedro Azogue (Rodrigo Ramallo 46').

Past full international games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park: