Peru win one for the fans and Jefferson

SOCHI: Peru bowed out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over eliminated Australia in Group C yesterday.

The victory means they finish third above Australia, who started the game with a chance to progress to the last 16 but finished up bottom of the table with just one point.

Peru, who had lost their first two games, scored their first goal of these finals when they took the lead on 18 minutes through Andre Carrillo from Paolo Guerrero’s pass.

Captain Guerrero got the second himself from Christian Cueva’s assist on 50 minutes as Ricardo Gareca’s side made good on the promise to send their huge travelling support home happy.

Peru were without forward Jefferson Farfan after he was hospitalised in the wake of a training collision on Sunday that initially left him unconscious.

Guerrero was outstanding leading the line for his team and paid tribute to his teammate after the game donning a Farfan jersey and saying: “This triumph is for our people and for Jefferson.

“Next year we have a new challenge in the Copa America in Brazil. We showed that Peru is an equal to anyone.”

It was Guerrero’s deep cross that Carrillo volleyed past Mathew Ryan in the Australia goal for the opener. It wasn’t just Peru’s first goal of the tournament, it was their first World Cup finals goal since a 5-1 defeat to Poland in 1982.

Australia were nearly level on 26 minutes when Tom Rogic tricked his way through a crowd of Peru defenders inside the area but shot straight at Pedro Gallese. It sparked a spell of good pressure from Australia and Mathew Leckie was poised to turn in Robbie Kruse’s cross from the left until Anderson Santamaria slid in to clear for a corner.

But any chance of an Australian comeback was dealt a blow five minutes into the second half when Peru doubled their lead. Guerrero scored after good work from Miguel Trauco and Cueva. – dpa