Despite fielding a below strength team Brazil held on to a 1-1 with Bolivia in their World Cup qualifier in La Paz.
Brazil, already qualified for the 2006 tournament in Germany, Parreira decided to travel without Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Kaka. Leaving just Adriano and Robinho as the main attacking force.
In order to minimise the negative effects of altitude Brazil arrived in the Bolivian capital just two hours before the kick off.
They game started slowly until Brazil went ahead through Juninho Pernambucano’s 25th-minute stunning free-kick.
Roque Junior almost added a second a minute later when he headed just wide following a corner.
After the goal Brazil started defending very deep in their own half and attacking in limited numbers.
This gave Bolivia the opportunity to have some good chances, with Julio Cesar making two outstanding saves in less than a minute, blocking a header from Miguel Hoyos and parrying a powerful Julio Baldivieso drive.
In the second half things turned a little ugly with the hosts getting away with some nasty challenges thanks to lenient refereeing by Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda.
5 minutes into the second half substitute Jose Castillo replied for Bolivia after Daner Pachi’s long ball forward was headed down by Botero into his path and then rifled home from 12 metres.
Brazil held out for the remainder of the game, with Robinho lucky to have got no serious injuries after becoming the target for some tough tackling.
