Concepcion: Paolo Guerrero fired Peru to a third place play-off victory over Paraguay here Friday to stay in the hunt for Copa America tournament top-scorer honours.
The Flamengo striker, topscorer at the 2011 Copa America, bagged his fourth goal of this year’s tournament with a late strike as Peru completed a 2-0 victory.
The goal saw Guerrero join Chile’s Eduardo Vargas as joint top-scorer.
The 31-year-old’s 25th international goal has also edged him closer to overhauling Peru legend Teofilo Cubillas’s national record of 26 goals. Peru’s other goal came from Andre Carrillo in the 48th minute.
A dangerous corner by Peru’s highly rated midfielder Christian Cueva was headed into the path of Carrillo by Paraguay’s Raul Bobadilla.
The 24-year-old met the clearance with a sweetly struck volley which flew into the bottom corner past the dive of Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar.
Paraguay, thrashed 6-1 by Argentina in the semi-finals, raised their game fleetingly and almost snatched an equaliser on 68 minutes only for striker Edgar Benitez to be denied by a superb block from Peru midfielder Carlos Ascues. Peru’s win saw them repeat their third place finish from the 2011 Copa America.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca earlier hoped his side’s standout performance can inspire them to a successful World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Conmebol campaign to reach the 2018 World Cup kicks off in October and Peru will look to qualify for the first time since 1982. “The identity is important,” Gareca said.
“It’s not for me to say whether I am restoring the identity to Peruvian football, because it has a rich history, but I believe in the Peruvian players and if the public think that this team resembles teams from the past, then that’s great.
“We are just trying to make the team stronger all the time.”
Peru suffered only two defeats at the tournament to Brazil and Chile - both by a single goal - and scored in all but one of their matches - a goalless draw with Colombia.
