Copa America 2015 – losers final – Peru beat Paraguay 2-0
- · Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 to claim third place at the Copa America in Chile
- · Andre Carrillo broke the deadlock three minutes after half-time
- · Paolo Guerrero double the advantage in the closing minutes
- · Peru finish in third for the second consecutive Copa America tournament
- · Guerrero is the tournament's joint top goal scorer with four
Los Incas struck twice after half-time to
seal a third-place Copa America finish for the second consecutive edition of
the tournament
Peru ended their 2015 Copa America campaign on a high,
overcoming Paraguay 2-0 in the third-place match in Concepcion on Friday.
Andre Carrillo and Paolo Guerrero were the heroes for
Peru, who also finished third four years ago, with their second-half goals
proving the difference at Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo.
After their semi-final exit to hosts Chile and dour
opening half, Carrillo volleyed beyond Justo Villar in the 48th minute.
And Guerrero netted late on as Peru claimed consecutive
third-place finishes at the premier South American tournament.
There were changes to both teams, with Peru pair
Christian Ramos and Yordy Reyna starting in place of Jefferson Farfan, who did
not pass a late fitness test, and Carlos Zambrano (suspended) after the 2-1 defeat
to Chile.
Paraguay counted the cost of their 6-1 drubbing at the
hands of Argentina, with Derlis Gonzalez (thigh), Roque Santa Cruz (hamstring),
Bruno Valdez (thigh), Nelson Valdez (thigh), Edgar Benitez, Richard Ortiz and
Ivan Piris dropping out for Lucas Barrios, Raul Bobadilla, Oscar Romero,
Osvaldo Martinez, Nestor Ortigoza, Miguel Samudio and Marcos Caceres.
Chances were at a premium in the first half, with both
teams failing to create anything clear-cut during the opening 45 minutes.
Reyna and Romero were limited to long-range efforts for
Peru and Paraguay respectively as the half ended all-square.
The match came to life in the 48th minute, when Carrillo volleyed
past Paraguay goalkeeper Villar from outside the area.
A corner kick deflected up in the air and Carrillo got
his outstretched boot to the ball, leaving Villar with no chance.
It was the Sporting Lisbon forward's first international
goal since August 2012.
Peru had Carlos Ascues to thank after the hour-mark, with
his last-ditch challenge enough to deny Edgar Benitez and Paraguay an
equaliser.
Benitez was picked out by Romero at the back post with
the goal at his mercy in the 66th minute, but Ascues was on hand to deny the
Paraguay striker a clear goalscoring opportunity as the ball hit the bottom of
the post and rolled away to safety.
Victory was sealed for Peru in the 89th minute as Guerrero side-footed
through Villar's legs after a cross from Joel Sanchez.

