Colombia hands Bolivia 5-0 World Cup qualifying loss

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia (AP) -Colombia tightened its grip on a qualifying spot for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil by beating Bolivia 5-0 on Friday. Colombia

Colombia players celebrate one of their five goals against Bolivia in World Cup qualifying on Friday :: Alfonso Cervantes/Getty Images

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia (AP) -Colombia tightened its grip on a qualifying spot for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil by beating Bolivia 5-0 on Friday.

Colombia scored only once in the first half, through Macnelly Torres. Bolivia changed goalkeepers to start the second half, with Sergio Galarza replacing Carlos Arias.

It didn't work out for Galarza.

He conceded four goals to four different players - Carlos Valdes, Teofilo Gutierrez, Radamel Falcao and Pablo Armero - and further diminished Bolivia's chances of qualifying. Bolivia has only eight points in 10 matches.

Colombia has 19 points from nine matches

The top four clubs in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, and the fifth-place team faces a playoff for a spot. Brazil as the host nation qualifies automatically.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/soccer/wires/03/22/2080.ap.soc.colombia.bolivia.123/index.html#ixzz2OJsgtrDq