Peru claim Copa America third place with win over Paraguay

Peru matched their third place finish at the 2011 Copa America by beating Peru 2-0 in this year’s play-off match, capping what has been a very successful tournament for Ricardo Gareca’s side.

Both sides exceeded expectations at the Copa America in Chile this summer, with Paraguay coming into the tournament on the back of a World Cup qualifying campaign that saw them finish in bottom place.

But they have proved to be the competition’s surprise packages, with both Peru and Paraguay making their second successive Copa America semi-final. However, it was the former who imposed themselves on this contest.

Andre Carrillo gave his side the lead after 47 minutes, striking first-time with an unorthodox volley after Paraguay failed to clear a corner kick delivery to the back post. And Gareca’s side were rarely troubled, as Paolo Guerrero completed the scoring in stoppage time - finishing from Joel Sanchez’s cross to bring him level as the tournament’s joint-top goalscorer.

27’ THAT WAS A HIT! There was certainly some power behind that effort! Romero out everything he had into that shot. He smashed it at goal from long-range, but Gallese makes the save.

28’ GOOD CHANCE FOR PERU! A corner kick flashes its way to the back post, where Lobaton was lurking behind Guerrero. But can't quite sort his feet out in time and he sticks it wide.

47’ GOAL! Peru 1 Paraguay 0: We have the breakthrough! A corner kick is only partially cleared by Paraguay, with Carrillo striking a first-time volley into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

67’ VERY CLOSE: How didn't that go in? Paraguay for the first time in the match have Peru stretched, with Romero putting a cross to the back post. Benitez looked set to stick in home, but he somehow couldn't connect.

81’ CLOSE AGAIN: How didn't that result in a second goal for Peru? First Reyna is played through, but checks back to Yotun - who scuffs his shot on goal. But Guerrero flicks it just over and on to the roof of the net.

89’ GOAL! Peru 2 Paraguay 0: And there's the goal to seal it. Guerrero finishes from Sanchez's right-sided cross, and that makes him the tournament's joint-top scorer.

The likes of Lionel Messi, Arturo Vidal and Jorge Valdivia are frontrunners for the Player of the Copa award, but Guerrero also deserves a mention for his performances over the past few weeks. The striker might finish the tournament as the joint-top goalscorer, with his hat-trick in the round of 16 win over Bolivia one of the highlights of the Copa.

The midfielder, who plays for Leipzig in the German second tier, was the star of the show for Peru on a night when very few from either side showed their true potential. He was the one outlet Gareca’s side had on the attack, although Guerrero certainly didn’t play badly. It was just that Reyna outshone him.

Peru - Gallese 6, Advincula 6, Ramos 7, Ascues 7, Vargas 6, Lobaton 5, Ballon 5, Reyna 8, Cueva 7, Carrillo 7, Guerrero 7.

Paraguay - Villar 6, Caceres 6, da Silva , Aguilar 6, Samudio 7, Ortigoza 5, Caceres 6, Martinez 5 Romero 5, Bobadilla 5, Barrios 5. Subs - Ortiz 5, Aranda 6, Benitez 6.