Mexico Edge Bolivia as Berterame Delivers in Grueling Friendly
Mexico closed out their first short preparation tour toward 2026 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bolivia, completing a perfect two wins from two matches under Javier Aguirre using an all Liga MX squad. In punishing heat and a hostile atmosphere, Germán Berterame emerged as the difference-maker with a second-half strike that settled a fiercely contested friendly.
The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute, when Berterame reacted quickest inside the area after a goalkeeper spill, steering the rebound home to give El Tri a hard-earned lead that they would not relinquish.
Aguirre once again rotated his lineup, handing Armando González the responsibility of leading the line as a lone striker. Bolivia, despite missing several regular starters due to the non FIFA window, compensated with aggression and intensity, disrupting Mexico’s rhythm for long spells and keeping the contest finely balanced.
The match mattered as part of Aguirre’s early evaluation phase ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with the coach focusing exclusively on domestic-based players. After also beating Panama 1-0 earlier in the tour, Mexico leave South America with clean sheets, growing cohesion, and clearer conclusions about individual roles.
Set in conditions exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and played before more than 25,000 vocal Bolivian supporters, the game quickly took on an edge. Bolivia pressed high, challenged every second ball, and forced Mexico into a physical battle rather than a technical one. Early buildup play ran through the midfield pairing tasked with managing tempo under constant pressure.
Tempers flared midway through the first half when Jesús Gallardo became embroiled in a heated confrontation involving several Bolivian players. The referee allowed the match to flow, but the physical tone never eased, and fouls disrupted momentum on both sides.
Mexico’s breakthrough came through persistence rather than dominance. Berterame, introduced from the bench, pounced after Bolivia’s goalkeeper failed to clear a loose ball, showing composure in traffic to finish clinically from close range.
Bolivia responded by pushing numbers forward, creating danger through aerial deliveries and speculative efforts from distance. Mexico were forced into last-ditch defending, while goalkeeper Raúl Rangel remained alert to crosses and second balls.
The second half saw Bolivia grow bolder as fatigue set in, while Aguirre made adjustments to preserve structure and energy. Mexico missed opportunities to kill the game on the counter, leaving the result in doubt deep into stoppage time.
Late drama arrived when Robbson Tome was sent off for a reckless challenge on Berterame, moments before assistant coach Rafael Márquez was also dismissed following protests from the Mexico bench. Despite the chaos, El Tri managed the closing minutes with discipline.
The win allows Aguirre to end the tour with confidence as preparations continue toward 2026. Mexico’s next test comes on February 25 against Iceland in Querétaro, where the coaching staff will continue refining options and building competition across the squad.