April 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bolivia handed Argentina its biggest soccer loss in half a century with a 6-1 World Cup qualifying victory that ended Diego Maradona’s perfect record as coach.

Striker Joaquin Botero scored three goals in La Paz yesterday as Argentina slumped to its heaviest defeat since losing by the same score to Czechoslovakia at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Marcelo Martins, Didi Torrico and Alex da Rosa added the other goals.

“Every Bolivia goal was a stab in my heart,” Clarin newspaper cited Maradona as saying at a news conference.

The defeat, which came four days after a 4-0 win over Venezuela, was Argentina’s first since former national team captain and playing icon Maradona’s appointment in November. Argentina, which last failed to reach the World Cup in 1970, slipped to fourth in a South American group headed by Paraguay from which four qualify for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Botero, who plays in Mexico’s second division, got his first goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and added a second-half double to complete his hat-trick.

Martins had put the home team ahead in the 11th minute before Luis Gonzalez scored the visitor’s only goal to tie it 14 minutes later. Argentina had Angel di Maria red-carded in the second half, seven minutes after he came on as a substitute.

“We have to give merit to Bolivia who were better than us in every part of the field,” Maradona, 48, said. “They beat us well and now we have to start all over again.”

High Ground

Midfielder Javier Mascherano and defender Gabriel Heinze refused to blame the loss on the thin air of La Paz. The Bolivian capital, situated 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) above sea level, got a reprieve last year when governing body FIFA reversed a ban on international games played above 2,750 meters.

“We didn’t lose because of the altitude,” Clarin cited Heinze as saying. “We lost because they were better then us and we didn’t play well.”

It was the first time Argentina lost by a five-goal margin since a 5-0 home defeat to Colombia in 1993. Bolivia, which has played in one World Cup in the past 50 years, stands 50 places behind Argentina in the official FIFA rankings in 56th.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the second of its two World Cup titles in 1986, had begun his coaching tenure with victories over Scotland and France in exhibition games before the win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires.

The rout in La Paz enabled record five-time world champion Brazil to climb above Argentina and Chile into second place with 21 points following a 3-0 win over last-place Peru.

Paraguay, which drew 1-1 at Ecuador yesterday, heads the 10-team group with 24 points. Chile is third with 20 points following a 0-0 draw at home to Uruguay. Bolivia remains second- last ahead of the next round of games in June.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney at dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 1, 2009 23:44 EDT