Peru played to a full home crowd at Lima as they faced Paraguay, a fellow top-three finisher at the 2011 Copa America. Paraguay were looking to shake their poor streak in competitive matches, having failed to have won on eight straight occasions since a 2-0 triumph over Slovakia in the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. In those eight matches, Paraguay had earned six draws, and the first half made it seem as though Paraguay were heading for a seventh. Elvis Marecos suffered an injury for Paraguay and had to be substituted for by Miguel Samudio (pictured, 13) before having played even the first thirty minutes as a starter. Other than that, the first half was pretty uneventful, though Peru looked the more dangerous team.
2011 Copa America Golden Boot winner Paolo Guerrero became the first of the four-headed attacking monster that is Peru to score in the 2014 FIFA World Cup two minutes after the resumption of play. Another head of the monster, Jefferson Farfan (pictured, white) stole a pass and ran up the field before giving a through ball to Guerrero, who faked Paraguay's second-string goalkeeper Diego Barreto and then chipped into the open net for 1-0. With little more than fifteen minutes remaining, Farfan again began a goal-scoring play. Farfan backheeled to the third head of the monster Claudio Pizarro, who ran all the way to the end line before turning back upfield with a delicate lifted cross that found an open Guerrero from seven yards out. Needless to say, Guerrero made it 2-0, which ended up being the final score. The fourth head of the monster, Juan Manuel Vargas, caused havoc up the left flank all match long. Paraguay go home to face Uruguay next while Peru look for road points against Chile on Tuesday.
Argentina 3 pts +3
Uruguay 3 pts +2
Peru 3 pts +2
Ecuador 3 pts +2
Colombia -- --
Bolivia 0 pts -2
Paraguay 0 pts -2
Venezuela 0 pts -2
Chile 0 pts -3
Goals
Peru
Paolo Guerrero 47, 73
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Highlights:
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