Mexico and Bolivia play out uninspiring goalless draw at Copa America

Mexico and Bolivia both hindered their chances of making it out of Group A, playing out an insipid goalless draw in the Copa America.

The result leaves Chile clear at the top of the group standings after one round of fixtures, with neither Mexico nor Bolivia taking the initiative in their efforts to mount a quarter-final challenge at the Estadio Sausolito.

Both sides struggled to make any real impression on the match, although Mexico became more of a threatening proposition in the final third following the second half introduction of Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez.

Although it was Jimenez who passed up the best chance of the match, glancing a header from a Jesus Corona cross to the near post across goal when he really should have found the net with his effort.

16’ - OFF THE WOODWORK: Out of nothing, Bolivia come mightily close to opening the scoring. A cross is played into the near post from the left side, with Pedriel forcing a shot towards goal - but it hits the post.

25’ - KEEPER STOP: Good save from Quinonez! A cross-field pass finds Flores in behind the Bolivian defence. His first-time cross is blocked but his subsequent volley from a tight angle is saved by the goalkeeper.

43’ - BIG SAVE: Marquez's poor clearing header lands at the feet of Campos, who smashes a strike towards goal. However, the Mexican goalkeeper Corona does well to make the diving save to prevent the opener.

50’ - CORONA CHANCE: Right on cue, there's an opportunity for Corona. The FC Twente man found some space down the right channel, but skewed his shot wide of the near post when he should have gone across goal.

63’ - OPPORTUNITY: That wasn't too far away! Moreno picked up the ball 30 yards out and drove towards goal. But from a tight angle he dragged his shot wide of the target. Corona was worried for a split second.

69’ - THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE IN: Corona is once again the creator for Mexico, getting to the byline before crossing. Jimenez gets in front of his marker but glances his header across goal and wide.

83’ - BIG DECISION: Aquino goes down in the Bolivian penalty area, looking to the referee in protest. But rather than pointing to the spot he tells the Mexican attacker to get back to his feet.

88’ - WHAT A CHANCE: A scramble ensues in the penalty area from a Mexican set piece, with the ball eventually falling to Vuoso about eight yards out, but his shot is deflected over the bar.

Should Raul Jimenez have started for Mexico against Bolivia? Miguel Herrera opted for an attacking duo of Matias Vuoso and Eduardo Herrera from the start, and it didn’t really work. It wasn’t until Jimenez was introduced as a second-half substitute that Mexico started to make an impression in the final third. So was the wrong call made? Should the Atletico Madrid forward have started from the off - and will he play Mexico’s next game against Chile on Monday?

Jesus Corona (Mexico): The FC Twente midfielder is just one of two players in Mexico’s Copa America squad to play in Europe, and Corona was the standout performer for El Tri in what was an otherwise insipid display. Everything Mexico did well came through Corona, with his energy through the centre of the pitch giving Jimenez an ample supply-line when he eventually came on in the second half.

Mexico: Corona 6, Aldrete 5, Dominguez 6, Marquez 6, Ayala 5, Flores 7, Medina 6, Guemez 5, Corona 8, Herrera 5, Vuoso 6. Subs: Jimenez 7, Aquino 7, Montes 6.

Bolivia: Quinonez 6, Hurtado 5, Raldes 6, Zenteno 5, Bejarano 6, Veizaga 7, Smedberg 5, Bejarano 5, Campos 6, Lizio 5, Moreno 6. Subs: Escobar 5.