Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal against Bolivia after refusing to stop playing when the opposing goalkeeper was injured.
His team eventually suffered a shock defeat at home after Miguel Terceros helped Bolivia regain the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
This gave them their first ever win in Chile and their first away win in a World Cup qualifier since 1993.
However, both teams remain well off the pace in the battle for a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, although the away side have outpaced their rivals in the table, having won nine points from eight games.
But the international tie will forever be remembered for the way Chile scored the equaliser, an incident that led to a fierce fight immediately afterwards.
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 6 Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal against Bolivia after refusing to stop playing when the opposing goalkeeper was injured](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal against Bolivia after refusing to stop playing when the opposing goalkeeper was injured
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 8 His team eventually suffered a shock home defeat after Miguel Terceros helped the opponent regain the lead in stoppage time.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726051303_21_Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
His team eventually suffered a shock home defeat after Miguel Terceros helped the opponent regain the lead in stoppage time.
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 10 But the international tie will always be remembered for the way Chile scored the equaliser.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726051304_334_Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
But the international tie will always be remembered for the way Chile scored the equaliser.
Upon receiving the ball outside his area in the 39th minute, Carlos Lampe falls to the ground and immediately raises his arm in the air to signal that he needs assistance from the bench.
However, Vargas, who is charging at the goalkeeper, completely ignores this and runs towards the ball before putting it into the net.
The controversial nature of the equaliser was exacerbated by a joyous celebration in which the striker raises his arms in the air as the ball rolls before forming a heart with his hands which he shows to the ecstatic crowd.
This led to a massive brawl between the two teams. First, Bolivian midfielder Robson Matheus ran towards Vargas and expressed his disapproval of the way he scored.
Referee Juan Gabriel Benitez of Paraguay struggles to control the emotions of the players with men on each side pushing and elbowing each other, while visiting goalkeeper Gabriel Arias runs the length of the pitch to get into the action.
Vargas then doubles down on the celebration, seemingly clapping as he runs away from the hubbub, before returning to the fight to make his views clear once again.
Meanwhile, Lampe lies almost motionless on the turf and it is later discovered that the goalkeeper has completely torn his right Achilles tendon. Information information.
“The operation will be carried out at the MEDS Clinic in Santiago, Chile, at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday, September 11, in order to immediately begin the recovery process,” the Bolivian team said in a statement.
The goalkeeper was then carried off on a stretcher, visibly emotional and with his head in his hands, while the fight continued.
The goal stood because Benitez did not feel it necessary to blow the whistle and the incident did not involve a head injury. Play was therefore allowed to continue and Vargas was able to slot the ball into the open goal unchallenged.
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 13 The controversial draw sparked a massive brawl involving both teams.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726051305_928_Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
The controversial draw sparked a massive brawl involving both teams.
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 15 The goalkeeper was taken away on a stretcher, visibly emotional and with his head in his hands, while the fight continued.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726051305_7_Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
The goalkeeper was taken away on a stretcher, visibly emotional and with his head in his hands, while the fight continued.
![Is this 2024's most controversial goal? Chile striker sparks mass brawl 17 Vargas may be familiar to some British viewers, as the combative striker once played for Queen's Park Rangers.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726051306_287_Is-this-2024s-most-controversial-goal-Chile-striker-sparks-mass.jpg.webp)
Vargas may be familiar to some British viewers, as the combative striker once played for Queen’s Park Rangers.
Immediately after the strange goal, Bolivia got its redemption with Miguelito completing an exceptional play to regain the lead.
There was some discussion between the two captains, which some interpreted as a possible unassisted goal for the visiting team, but clearly no agreement was reached.
Vargas might be familiar to some British viewers as the combative striker once played for Queen’s Park Rangers, making 21 appearances and scoring three goals.