Peru pulled off a shock 3-0 victory over Uruguay in the opening
game of the Copa America on Tuesday.
Miguel Villalta, Juan Carlos Marino and Paolo Guerrero were on
target for Peru in the Group A match against the 14-times
tournament winners.
Hosts Venezuela take in Bolivia in the group's other match later
on Tuesday with Brazil and Argentina favourites for the title.
Peru went ahead in the 27th minute when, from a short corner,
Jefferson Farfan whipped in a cross from the left and defender
Villalta lost his marker and rose at the back post to power home a
close-range header.
The confident Peruvians thought they had a second five minutes
later when Guerrero slotted home but Paraguayan referee Carlos
Amarilla ruled out the effort for offside.
A sluggish Uruguay produced their first real effort on goal just
before the break when Fabian Estoyanoff, in for the injured Alvaro
Recoba, unleashed a fierce, dipping drive from nearly 30 metres out
and Peru keeper Leao Butron did well to tip the shot over the
bar.
Cristian Rodriguez replaced Fabian Canobbio for Uruguay at the
break and he made an instant impact going close to an equaliser
just two minutes after the restart with an acrobatic shot which
Butron did well to keep out.
Peru though continued to present danger to the Uruguayan
defence, Guerrero breaking down the right and a sliding Claudio
Pizarro was just inches away from potentially profitable contact at
the back post.
It was from a similar approach that Peru doubled their
advantage. Juan Carlos Marino bursting down the right channel but
instead of crossing he blasted a shot into the top corner of Fabian
Carini's near post, the surprise element as much as the raw power
beating the Uruguay keeper.
Guerrero wrapped up a thoroughly deserved victory with a
straightfoward tap-in after good work from Andres Mendoza.
(China Daily via Reuters June 27, 2007)
