Peru have overcome Paraguay in a scruff encounter to finish third in the 2015 Copa America today.
The minnows, who were knocked out by hosts Chile in the semi-finals, took the lead shortly after half time with an emphatic finish by Andre Carrillo.
Paraguay almost equalised through Edgar Benitez, who hit the post from a few yards out, but Peru secured victory through a late Paolo Guerrero strike.
Relive Sports Mole's coverage below.
Hello, good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Copa America clash between Peru and Paraguay from Concepcion. Both sides have relied on strong defences so far, but with little to play for they could cut-loose tonight.
Peru have been mightily impressive so far in this tournament, making the quarter-finals for the sixth time in a row. They eased past Bolivia in the last-eight, before bowing out to hosts Chile in the semi's.
In that absorbing contest, Peru were reduced to 10 men early on when Carlos Zambrano was shown a second yellow card, before Eduardo Vargas scored a stunning winner in the second half.
Meanwhile, Paraguay bowed out in some style as they were thrashed 6-1 by Argentina. It was still a positive tournament for them though, as they beat Brazil in the quarter-finals and came through a group which contained defending champions Uruguay.
PERU: Gallese, Advincula, Reyna, Ascues, Vargas, Ballon, Lobaton, Cueva, Carrillo, Ramos, Guerrero
PARAGUAY: Villar, Caceres, Aguilar, Samudio, Da Silva, Bobadilla, V Caceres, Martinez, Ortigoza, Romero, Barrios.
TEAM NEWS: Paraguay have rotated heavily for this game, with seven changes. Marcos Caceres is one of two defensive changes, while talismanic striker Roque Santa-Cruz misses out through injury. For Peru, Jefferson Farfan drops to the bench, while Christian Ramos comes in for the suspended Carlos Zambrano.
The players are already strolling out onto the pitch for tonight's clash. Kickoff will follow the national anthems.
Paraguay have the honour of singing their anthem first...and it's a lively little number when it gets going.
Jeers ring out during the Peru anthem, but their player aren't put off as they belt it out with gusto. That takes some courage with microphones so close to their faces, but I don't think Simon Cowell will be signing them up any time soon. Now that's over with, let's get down to the football!
KICKOFF! Paraguay start the match.
It's been a sharp start from Peru, who knock the ball round nicely. They're keen to get forward quickly and force an early corner.
Peru are keeping a very high line too...There is a lot space in behind, as Lucas Barrios almost finds out. A neat pass finds the striker through on goal but the assistant raises his flag.
SAVE! Great save from Justo Villar of Paraguay, who keeps out Jose Reyna's long-range effort. It was a good strike, bit Villar tipped it round the post.
Tackles are flying in here, and it the game has a good feel to it. It's not been your stereotypical third-place playoff so far. The tempo is high, possession has been impressive and both sides are keen to attack.
Paraguay earn their first corner as Oscar Romero's cross is deflected behind.
It breaks down, and Peru break forward with great speed down the left. Advincula has a lot of time to pick his pass, but it's under-hit and Paraguay clear.
CLOSE! Peru have a couple of set-pieces on the right hand side, and almost take a sneaky lead. Vargas is expected to whip the ball in, but he instead goes for goal and curls it marginally over the top.
SHOT! Pablo Aguilar is penalised for a foul on the edge of the box, giving Peru a free kick from 30 yards. Vargas lines it up, but smashes it straight into the wall and the ball is cleared. Chance gone.
Paraguay almost get in on goal with a long ball forward from Ramos. He pumps a free kick long upfield, but it just evades the run of Andre Carrillo.
Admittedly the game has entered a bit of a lull, with regular breaks in play making it a fractious match. Surely a booking isn't far away? There are a lot of cynical, niggly fouls going on.
SAVE! Finally, we have some action up the other end as Oscar Romero stings the palms of Pedro Gallese with a well-hit shot from 20 yards. The keeper parries it away, and makes a comfortable save.
CHANCE! Big, big chance for Carlos Lobaton who blasts a half-volley over from eight yards. A dinked cross from the right found him perfectly at the back post, but he lashed at the chance and it flew well wide.
CHANCE! More space for Paraguay down the left should result in something far better than what Romero just produced. The winger strayed offside, before receiving a pass and weakly crossing into the box. If he was more disciplined and stayed onside then Paraguay were in.
It's an end-to-end game out there again, but there is a real lack of quality in the final third. Both teams struggled to produce the key pass, and move after move breaks down 30 yards from goal.
Paraguay have really done a good job in quietening Peru down. They were well on top in the first 15 minutes, but have hardly had a sniff since.
SHOT! And as soon as I say that, Jose Reyna has a pop at goal from 25 yards. His effort never look like threatening the goal, and flies harmlessly over.
YELLOW CARD! It's been coming, and now it's finally arrived. Miguel Samudio of Paraguay becomes the first man in the referee's book for dragging down Raul Orozco.
We're drifting towards half time and, frankly, that's not a bad thing. I'm sure both coaches will want to get the troops in and give them a dressing down based on this poor half. Things can only improve, right?
We've got just one minute of injury time...
HALF TIME: PERU 0-0 PARAGUAY
So, let's all thank the referee for bringing this half to an end. This is match 25 of the tournament so far and, despite early encouragement, its been very disappointing.
Peru were the more aggressive of the two teams, and enjoyed a couple of chances. But it didn't take Paraguay long to regain their defensive shape and solidarity. They even looked like the most likely goalscorers towards the end of the half. Let's hope we see at least one goal in the second half.
So where do we go from here? Well, some more pace and energy might be a good idea. Peru kept winger Jefferson Farfan on the bench for tonight's game, and he would be perfect for a contest like this.
Both coaches will be keen to make use of all three substitutes tonight, as this game has become an audition for the opening round of World Cup qualifying games in October. Remember, it's a three-year slog for the South American teams, who play an incredible 18 games!
But why wait until then for your next fix of South American football? Tonight is the final of the Copa America between Chile and Argentina, and you can follow that live with us!
But sticking with tonight's game, and the players will start to trickle back out onto the pitch shortly for the second half so don't go anywhere. It can hardly get worse.
KICKOFF! Peru re-start the game.
Good start from Peru, who find space in between Paraguay's midfield and defence. Reyna forces a corner with a deflected cross...
GOAL! PERU 1-0 PARAGUAY (CARRILLO)
GOAL: WE HAVE A GOAL!!! Peru take the lead through Andre Carrillo, who volleys the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards. Paraguay fail to deal with the corner, and the number 18 slams it into the bottom corner. Great finish.
Paraguay earn a corner, but Oscar Romero's poor night continues as he plays a limp ball into the box which fails to beat the first man. Peru clear it easily.
CLOSE! Almost two for Peru! A quick break forward sees Reyna pick out Cueva on the left. His low cross was deflected back to him, before he curled a shot marginally wide.
SHOT! Peru have been excellent since the break and it's given Vargas the confidence to try something outrageous. The ball drops kindly for the Fiorentina man on the edge of the box, and he cracked a vicious half-volley a foot over the bar.
Paraguay are struggling to get the ball here. Peru are of full of confidence, and are knocking the ball around superbly. Guerrero forces another corner, and six men are waiting in the box...
It comes to nothing though, as Paraguay clear their lines.
SUBSTITUTE! Paraguay are the first side to make a change as Osvaldo Martinez heads off to be replaced by Edgar Benitez, but Peru quickly follow by sending on Victor Yotun for Carlos Lobaton.
SUBSTITUTE! And Paraguay quickly make their second change with Eduardo Aranda coming on for Victor Caceres.
CHANCE! Big chance for Peru to trouble the keeper, but they overplay it and Guerrero is caught offside. Carrillo weaves down the right and finds Cueva on the edge of the box. However, instead of shooting he tried to reverse a pass into Guerrero, and the linesman waves his flag.
SUBSTITUTE! Paraguay make their final change as Ricardo Ortiz heads onto the pitch.
SHOT! Paraguay earn a free kick 30 yards from goal, and Oscar Romero strikes it well. The winger whips an effort under the wall but, unfortunately for him, straight at the keeper.
OFF THE POST! Brilliant defending from Ascues, as he puts off Edgar Benitez from levelling things at the back post. Barrios slides a ball into the box, and the winger can only scoop it onto the post from four yards as Ascues slides in to deflect it off him.
Paraguay have come back into this, and are committing more men forward. Peru have still been the better side though, and have a corner on the far side.
The second half has definitely been a big upgrade from the first, which was truly dire. Can anyone name a good third-place playoff in history? I'd be impressed.
The physio's are on the pitch for the first time to help out the stranded Ascues, who then hobbles off injured.
SHOT! Paraguay have only really shot from long-range in this game, and they continue to do so with Richard Ortiz's effort, which is high, wide and not at all handsome. He looks up to the sky, probably trying to track his shot.
Replays show a nasty elbow from Vargas, right into the face of Ascues. He's lucky to get away with that.
CHANCE! If Peru don't win this game, then they'll spend the rest of the night wondering why. A mistake in the Paraguay defence released Carrillo, but he over-hits his seemingly simple pass into the feet of Sanchez. It forces the striker wide, before his weak shot is flicked marginally past the post by Guerrero.
CHANCE! Romero just hasn't been good enough from set-pieces for Paraguay, and he sends another from a good position on the right-hand side straight into orbit. A big waste.
I'm not a betting man, and if I was then I'd be extremely poor, but I fancy Peru to see it out from here. Paraguay haven't come close in the final 10 minutes here.
GOAL! PERU 2-0 PARAGUAY (GUERRERO)
GOAL: And that is now definitely that! Peru wrap it up on the counter attack as Sanchez darts down the right and cuts it back for Guerrero to tap into the back of the net. Game over.
SUBSTITUTE! Peru make a change in the dying seconds, as Carrillo goes off for Paolo Hurtado.
FULL TIME: PERU 2-0 PARAGUAY
PERU FINISH THIRD IN COPA AMERICA!
Well, it won't be remembered as a classic, but Peru have swept aside Paraguay and fully deserve to finish third in this year's Copa America. They may be one of the smaller nations in South America, but their tournament record is outstanding.
That's all from me this morning, but make sure to come rushing back tonight for the big one: Chile vs. Argentina in the final! What a game that looks set to be, and you can follow it live with us from 8pm. Until then, have a good night.
Written by
Charlie Bennett
Charlie Bennett
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