PARTY TIME AS PERU SEALS CUP DESTINY
AUSTRALIANS have a right to feel ripped off after Peru’s President declared a public holiday in celebration of the South American country qualifying for the World Cup.
Peru beat New Zealand 2-0 yesterday to win a two-leg playoff and earn the 32nd and last spot at Russia 2018.
The last time the Peruvians reached the World Cup was in 1982 in Spain.
After a 0-0 draw in Wellington on Saturday, a more vibrant Peru showed up at the Estadio Nacional in Lima.
Despite the absence of their main striker Paolo Guerrero, who has been suspended by FIFA on doping suspicions, the Peruvians controlled the game from the start.
At 28 minutes, striker Jefferson Farfan opened the scoring from the edge of the box, burying the ball into the New Zealand net.
In tears, the Lokomotiv Moscow forward showed the shirt of his boyhood friend Guerrero to the crowd.
New Zealand’s attempt to qualify for their third World Cup quickly fell apart.
On 65 minutes, defender Christian Ramos netted the second after a mistake from New Zealand’s defence on a corner.