Algeria dismantled Bolivia 4-0 behind closed doors in Lawrence, with Vladimir Petković leaning on a nominal 4-5-1 to stretch his depth chart while Ulises Saucedo’s 4-3-3 had few answers ahead of the next competitive window.
Bolivia’s midfield unit never found rhythm. Moisés Paniagua was booked in the 30th minute after repeated fouls on the touchline, and Robson Matheus’s pressing rarely unsettled Algeria’s base. Mohamed Amoura collected a yellow card in the 40th minute for halting a Bolivian break, yet he still provided the decisive action, sliding the pass that allowed Aïssa Mandi to score in the 45th minute on the stroke of half-time.
Petković then tore up the script. Eleven changes arrived at the 46th minute—Amine Gouiri, Adil Boulbina, Ramiz Zerrouki, Anis Hadj Moussa and the rest of Algeria’s second wave entering in one sweep. It was clear the staff wanted every fringe player assessed in live competition, and the payoff was immediate. Boulbina squared the ball for Gouiri to score in the 56th minute, the striker doubled the lead two minutes later, and when Zerrouki guided play through midfield, Hadj Moussa converted the move in the 61st minute. Boulbina took a yellow card in the 63rd minute for delaying a restart, a minor blemish on an otherwise electric cameo.
Saucedo could only react. Carlos A. Melgar and Gabriel Centella came on in the 64th minute—Centella relieving Gabriel Villamil—while the replacement right-back introduced moments later was cautioned in the 72nd minute. Robson Matheus finally made way for fresh legs in the 85th minute, long after the contest had slipped away.
This was a depth audition from Algeria that clicked, the midfield hinge of Zerrouki and Houssem Aouar keeping tempo while Gouiri underlined why his World Cup qualifying minutes are expected to rise. Bolivia, meanwhile, struggled to link lines as Saucedo searches for a reliable build-up pattern when competitive assignments resume later this month. For context on how other African sides are using June to stress-test their squads, see Depth auditions dominate as ten-man Senegal hold Saudi Arabia 0-0.
Key numbers:
- Goals: Aïssa Mandi (45th minute), Amine Gouiri (56th and 58th minutes), Anis Hadj Moussa (61st minute).
- Bookings: Moisés Paniagua (30th minute), Mohamed Amoura (40th minute), Adil Boulbina (63rd minute), Bolivia’s 64th-minute right-back substitute (72nd minute).
- Substitutions (Algeria, 46th minute): Adil Boulbina for Rayan Aït-Nouri, Zineddine Belaïd for Aïssa Mandi, Mohamed Tougai for Samir Chergui, Jaouen Hadjam for Achref Abada, Amine Gouiri for Nadhir Benbouali, Ramiz Zerrouki for Mohamed Amoura, Anis Hadj Moussa for Ibrahim Maza, Houssem Aouar for Riyad Mahrez, Alexandre Oukidja Mastil for Oussama Benbot, Farès Chaïbi for Nabil Bentaleb, Rayan Belghali for Hicham Boudaoui.
Petković now sifts through video before naming his next qualifier squad, buoyed by Gouiri’s clinical brace. Saucedo has fewer certainties; Bolivia need sharper possession play when competitive assignments resume later this month.
