Bolivia 1-3 Peru: La Blanquirroja set to face Chile

Peru will face Chile in the first semi-final of Copa America 2015 as they knocked out Bolivia in an entertaining match in Temuco. 

The game started timidly, with both sides pressing high in the hope of preventing the opposition creating any early attempts.

Peru’s early dominance resulted it a goal after 20 minutes. Juan Manuel Vargas’ cross was met by Paolo Guerrero who appeared to send the ball in the net via his shoulder.

Within three minutes of their first Peru got their second. A Bolivian free-kick at the other end has headed clear and Christian Cueva combined with Jefferson Farfán to set Peru on a breakaway, eventually lifting the ball over the top of the Bolivian defence to Guerrero, who calmly slotted home his second of the half.

Bolivia tried to respond quickly but Leonel Morales’ long range effort curled just over the top of Pedro Gallese’s goal.

In the 36th minute Peru had a chance to make it 3-0, Cueva linked up well with Guerrero to set Farfán free, but the pass from Peru’s number 8 was slightly heavy and Farfán dragged his shot wide.

Farfán came even closer on the stroke of half-time as his 30 yard free kick struck Romel Quiñónez’s crossbar.

Peru continued to dominate in the second half with Farfán and Cueva looking dangerous, the former shooting just wide having been presented with a great opportunity.

La Verde’s play had improved since making two half-time substitutions, but they were still struggling to create any meaningful opportunities to test Gallese.

With 16 minutes to go the game was settled by Guerrero’s hattrick. Danny Bejarano gifted possession to Guerrero 30 yards from goal, leaving him to run in on goal and slot past Quiñónez for the third time in the match.

Bolivia got a penalty with seven minutes remaining, giving them the faintest of hopes as Marcelo Martins dispatched comfortably to strike away Gallese’s clean sheet.

Unfortunately for them that faint hope never amounted to anything tangible as the game ended 3-1.

Bolivia: Quiñonéz, Hurtado (Escobar 46), Raldes, Zenteno, Morales (Lizio 46), Bejarano, Chumacero, Pedriel (Peña 68), Smedberg, Bejarano, Marcelo Martins

Peru: Gallese, Advíncula, Zambrano, Ascúes, Vargas, Retamoso, Yotún, Farfán (Hurtado 77), Cueva (Reyna 82), Pizarro (Carillo 66), Paolo Guerrero

Booked: Advíncula, Bejarano, Gallese, Escobar, Pedriel, Moreno, Yotún

Goalscorers: Guerrero x3, Marcelo Martins

Man of the Match: Paolo Guerrero. A fantastic performance from the ever-clinical Paolo Guerrero in which he bagged a hattrick and humiliated the Bolivians from start to finish.


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