Party time in Peru as drought ends
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 redand-white army of fans into ecstasy at the Fisht Stadium.
Although already eliminated, Peru 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.
“We had greater expectations but if we look at how we played I think Peru emerges from the World Cup with its head high,” Peru’s Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca said.
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, and several 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 coach Bert van Marwijk’s side would have felt it a dreary case of deja vu, as his players surged forward in numbers but lacked the polish to conjure a score.
The Dutchman, who took the Netherlands to the final at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, complained that Carrillo’s goal should have been ruled out for offside and signed off from his short-term assignment with mixed feelings.
“The second goal was a very lucky goal, so we don’t have luck in all three of the games,” Van Marwijk, who guided the Socceroos to a 2-1 loss against France and a 1-1 draw against Denmark, said.
“In all three of the games, we couldn’t make the difference in goals.”
Captain Mile Jedinak blazed over the bar in the fifth minute and wing 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.
Guerrero’s tournament had been in doubt due to a doping suspension in the build-up to the World Cup.