Brazil lose again, still waiting for World Cup

Four times world champions Brazil are still waiting to guarantee their place at next year's World Cup after crashing to a 3-1 defeat against Bolivia at high altitude on Wednesday.

Brazil, who still have next week's match at home to Venezuela to play, needed a win to make sure of their place with a game to spare and seemed to be on their way when Edilson gave them a first half lead.

But blunders by central defender Juan and goalkeeper Marcos -- in a stadium which has become a Brazilian goalkeepers' graveyard -- allowed Lider Paz and Julio Cesar Baldivieso to hit back for Bolivia.

A controversial penalty converted by Baldivieso finished off Brazil at the end.

Brazil, who can still guarantee their place by beating Venezuela on November 14, stayed fourth in the South American qualifying group with 27 points, one ahead of fifth-placed Uruguay.

Bolivia, with Carlos Trucco making his debut as their third coach of the qualifiers, moved up to seventh but were out of the running before kick-off.

The top four teams qualify directly for Japan and South Korea and the fifth plays off against Oceania winners Australia.

Brazil began the match full of running, as if the difficulties of playing at 3,600 metres above sea level were merely psychological.

They took the lead in the 25th minute when Edilson picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a left- foot shot past Mauricio Soria.

GOLDEN CHANCE

Edilson wasted a golden chance to increase the lead shortly afterwards when he broke clear but fired wide from a narrow angle instead of passing to the unmarked Rivaldo.

Brazil's nightmare began in the 43rd minute when central Juan slipped on the uneven pitch and allowed Lider Paz to steal the ball and fire a low shot past Marcos.

Brazil arrived in La Paz less than two hours before kick-off in an attempt to reduce the effects of the altitude but their reserves of energy ran out early in the second half and the Bolivians ran rings around them.

Initially, goalkeeper Marcos was the Brazilian hero with a string of fine saves.

But, in the 70th minute, Baldivieso took a speculative free kick from near the touchline 40 metres from goal, Marcos misjudged the flight of the ball and it floated over his head into the net.

Marcos followed in the footsteps of Taffarel, who made famous mistakes on Brazil's two previous visits to the Hernando Siles stadium in 1993 and 1997.

Marcos himself had a nightmare match at the same stadium in a club game for Palmeiras last year.

Bolivia, who lost their previous two games by 5-1 scorelines, added the third goal two minutes from time.

Bolivian striker Jose Alfredo Castillo collapsed after colliding with Cafu and, although television replays indicated a dive, a penalty was given and Baldivieso fired home.