LA PAZ -- Julio Cesar Baldivieso and
Joaquin Botero scored twice each as Bolivia routed hapless
Venezuela 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The victory helped Bolivia climb to seventh in the South
American group with 13 points from 13 games.
Despite the win, Bolivia remain six points adrift of fifth
place Colombia.
The top four teams from the group automatically qualify for
the World Cup finals in 2002 while the fifth place team earn a
play-off against the winners of the Oceania region.
Bolivia play three of their last five matches away from
home, where they have failed to pick up a point.
Venezuela, who beat Bolivia 4-2 at sea level last year,
remained rooted to the bottom of the group with four points.
The match, played 3,600 metres above sea level, was even for
the first half hour until Venezuela ran out of breath in the
thin air.
Baldivieso opened the scoring in the 33rd minute direct from
a free kick, then Botero and Raul Justiniano added two more
before halftime with almost identical goals against a stationary
defence.
Botero headed the fourth in the 52nd minute and Baldivieso
completed the scoring with an angled shot in the 69th minute,
the 40th goal Venezuela have conceded in their 13 games.
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