Chile’s Brereton marks int’l debut with winner against Bolivia

Sports Desk, Jun 18 (EFE).- Chile beat Bolivia 1-0 Friday in Copa America Group A match in Cuiaba, Brazil, courtesy of a tremendous goal by British-born Ben Brereton, making his debut with the national side.

Brereton, the son of a Briton and a Chilean woman, plays professionally for English Championship club Blackburn Rovers and was part of England’s U-20 team before deciding to become a citizen of Chile.

Facing a shortage of match-fit strikers, Chile coach Martin Lasarte called up the 22-year-old for the continental tournament.

Though the Chileans had 62 percent possession and put 11 shots on target to just three for the Bolivians, Brereton’s goal in the 10th minute would turn out to be the only thing separating the teams on the scoreboard.

Arturo Vidal launched the play from his own half with a ball out to Eduardo Vargas, author of the Chilean goal in the 1-1 opener against Argentina.

Vargas passed to Brereton, who waited for Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Lampe to come out before blazing the ball past him and into the net.

The result lifts Chile to first place in Group A, with 4 points from two matches. Paraguay sit second on 3 points from one game, while Argentina are third with a point and Bolivia have no points after two rounds.

The group’s fifth team, Uruguay, get their campaign under way Friday night against Argentina. EFE sd/dr