Carrillo wonder strike sparks late Peru party
A STUNNING Andre Carrillo volley gave Peru their first World Cup goal in 36 years before captain Paolo Guerrero grabbed a second as the Andean nation condemned Australia to a 2-0 defeat in Sochi yesterday and a regretful exit from Russia.
Guerrero set up Carrillo’s 18th-minute wonder goal from the edge of the box with a delightful cross, then scored from a deflection five minutes after the interval to send Peru’s red-and-white army of fans into ecstasy at the Fisht Stadium.
Although already eliminated, the South Americans head home on a high note, having grabbed their first World Cup win since their 4-1 defeat of Iran at the 1978 finals in Argentina.
Denied a place at the global showpiece for 36 years, Peru finished third in Group C with three points, while the Socceroos head home with just one, but more than a few regrets. France topped the group with seven points, with Denmark runners-up on five after the teams played out a dull 0-0 draw in Moscow.
Australia had needed to beat Peru and for France to defeat Denmark so the result was academic for the Socceroos.
But Bert van Marwijk’s side would have felt it was a case of deja vu, as they surged forward in numbers but lacked the polish to conjure a score.
Captain Mile Jedinak blazed over the bar in the fifth minute while winger Mathew Leckie was denied in the goalmouth by a scrambling defence in the 36th.
Not even an early second-half injection of talisman Tim Cahill could spark the Socceroos, their 38-year-old striker denied a goal in his World Cup swansong when he fired a volley straight into a Peru defender on the hour mark. Australia have long yearned for a cutting edge up front, but it was a defensive error that sent them on course for a stinging defeat.
With a long ball inadequately dealt with, Guerrero was allowed possession at the left of the area, and the captain wheeled a cross into the path of winger Carrillo who hammered the ball into the left corner of the net. It was the Andean nation’s first World Cup goal since Guillermo La Rosa scored in a 5-1 defeat by Poland at the 1982 finals in Spain.
Australia tried to rally through midfielder Tom Rogic who barged through a nest of defenders into the box in the 27th minute only to have his shot blocked.
Guerrero, whose tournament was in doubt due to a doping suspension, doubled the score in the 50th minute, a deflection off Jedinak dropping the ball in his path obligingly before his shot rebounded off Mark Milligan into the net. – Reuters THE goals finally dried up at this thrilling World Cup yesterday when a flat France and dull Denmark played out a mutually beneficial 0-0 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium which allowed the French to finish top of Group C and the Danes to qualify in second spot.
Thirty-six games in Russia had failed to result in a goalless stalemate, but neither France nor Denmark ever looked like scoring in a tedious affair.
France were already assured qualification, but wanted to go through in top spot to avoid a likely last-16 clash with in-form Croatia.
Denmark could have only been denied qualification had they lost to France and had Australia beaten Peru in the match being simultaneously played in Sochi.
But with the Peruvians leading 2-0 before the hour in that game, the Moscow clash settled down to little more than a canter.
While not in the same category as the infamous 1982 “Nichtangriffspakt von Gijon” – the non-aggression pact of Gijon – when West Germany and Austria both settled for a 1-0 German win which put them both through, neither side at the Luzhniki looked to be going all out for victory.
“It was our objective to ensure we were first out of the group ... The objective was achieved,” French coach Didier Deschamps said.
“It was very difficult. Teams are very well prepared, and it’s not easy against such a packed defence.”
Nor too was Denmark coach Age Hareide about to apologise for anything. “We just needed one point, right,” he said.
“We were up against one of the best counter-attacking teams in the world. We would have been stupid if we opened up. We played to get the result and we did it.”
The writing had been was on the wall early in the capital, with the play dominated by industry rather than any kind of inspiration.
The Danes built a pattern of firing balls deep before quickly tracking back, while the French kept possession well but struggled throughout with the final ball.
Antoine Griezmann, surprisingly not among the six players rested by Didier Deschamps for this match, looked listless as he sought to probe the Danish defence for a way through. Deschamps substituted Griezmann in the 68th minute for Nabil Fekir, but it was a case of plus ca change.
“I made a lot of changes. That hurts the cohesion a bit but it’s good that the whole squad feels involved,” Deschamps said. – Reuters