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Bolivia were done and dusted before the match even started. Chile, the defending Copa champions, were determined to make the world’s 82nd ranked side suffer. It was all Chile could do to make up for their disappointing defeat to Argentina.
Chile spent the first hour of the match accumulating almost 80% of possession while limiting Bolivia to a single shot. In the 58th minute, Bolivia introduced little-known playmaker Jhasmani Campos. Campos must not have been following or paying attention to the script, because he immediately turned the game on its head.
The diminutive Bolivian plays his club football in the Kuwaiti Premier League, and his Wikipedia page claims “it is a well known fact that he has never missed a penalty kick in his professional career to date.”
We can go ahead and add: “It is a well known fact that Jhasmani Campos scored the finest free kick the Copa America has ever, and will ever see.”
Jhasmani Campos Free Kick Bolivia vs. Chile
#CHIvBOL: 60'. Campos empata el partido para Bolivia con este golazo al ángulo. #UDCentenario #Copa100 #CopaAmerica https://t.co/3gXWBU2SHi
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 11, 2016
The flight, the curve, the pace — it’s the finest piece of craftsmanship the Americas have ever seen. The keeper gets his fingers to it, but the pace is just too much — even from that range. Chile, who never really got out of first gear, were shattered by the brilliance of Campos.
For Alexis Sanchez and his teammates, they were extremely fortunate to get a penalty in the games 1,672 minute (98th). They stole the result, 2-1, just like they stole that sea from Bolivia.
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