Costa Rica enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win over a Bolivia side that wound up with nine men in a sometimes fraught Group A clash at the Copa America.

After a tepid first half that produced no goals and few chances in Jujuy, the game sprung to life when Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Arias failed to hold a powerful shot by Allen Guevara as Josue Martinez slipped the ball into the empty net on 58 minutes.

Arias came to Bolivia's rescue seconds later when he saved a penalty from Guevera after Heiner Mora's shot was saved on the line by the arm of Ronald Rivero with 20 minutes left.

As Rivero departed the scene waving his arms in protest, Arias twice saved from Guevera as he stood tall to block the initial effort before spreading himself superbly to save the rebound.

It made little difference to the eventual outcome as Walter Flores was sent packing for a late tackle on the lively Joel Campbell with 17 minutes left on the clock.

Luis Guzman hammered a free-kick off a post from distance on 76 minutes, but Campbell finished matters off in favour of the young Costa Rican side as he sped through the Bolivian defence to slip the ball under the exposed Arias.

Costa Rica are second in Group A on three points, a point behind leaders Colombia.

They face tournament hosts Argentina in their closing group match on Monday and will secure a spot in the last eight if they earn a draw with the former world champions, who will enter the contest a point behind Costa Rica after two draws in their opening games.

Bolivia must defeat Colombia in their final match to have any chance of progressing.

It was a massively disappointing night for them after drawing 1-1 with Argentina in the opening game of the tournament.

Bolivia enjoyed their best moments in the first period when Juan Carlos Arce slammed a shot wide of goal on 11 minutes with Marcelo Moreno also squandering a couple of opportunities, but Costa Rica always looked the likelier side and should have gone ahead on 56 minutes when Mora burst into the opposing area only to fire his effort wide.

It was a bad miss, but had no bearing on the final outcome of the evening.

Eurosport