Copa America

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Copa America | Third-Place Match

Jul 4, 2015 at 12.30am UK

Peru
2-0
Paraguay

Carillo (48'), Guerrero (89')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Peru seal third-place finish in Copa America by defeating Paraguay

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter and Simon Sinclair, Reporter

Published: July 4 2015 | 02:23

Last updated: July 4 2015 | 13:13

Peru finish third in the Copa America as goals from Andre Carillo and Paolo Guerrero fire them to a 2-0 victory over Paraguay in their clash in Concepcion.

Peru have secured a third-place finish in the Copa America courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Paraguay.

Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar, who conceded six against Argentina in the semi-final, was forced into action on seven minutes as he denied Yordy Reyna, who was given the nod ahead of Jefferson Farfan.

Peru's forward Paolo Guerrero celebrates with teammate Andre Carrillo after scoring against Paraguay during the Copa America third place football match in Concepcion, Chile on July 3, 2015 © Getty Images

Shortly after, Juan Vargas went close for the Peruvians - who lost 2-1 to host nation Chile in the semis - once more, with the defender seeing his clever free kick curling just wide of the post.

It took the best part of 24 minutes for Ramon Diaz's side to threaten, as Pedro Gallese palmed away Oscar Romero's stinging shot from some 20 yards.

At the other end, Ricardo Gareca's men resumed control and should have moved ahead when Carlos Lobaton managed to blaze his half-volley over the bar from eight yards.

Having dominated the first half, Peru emerged from the break seemingly determined to make the most of their opportunities and it took just three minutes for the Incas to take a big step toward third place.

It stemmed from Paraguay's failure to deal with a corner as Andre Carillo pounced on the hesitation with a volley from 10 yards to leave Villar with no chance.

Diaz, who made seven changes to his first XI following the 6-1 mauling by the Albiceleste, saw his side struggle to settle and Peru continued to dominate.

First, Christian Cueva drilled narrowly wide of the post on 52 minutes, before Vargas's ambitious half-volley sailed just over the bar as Paraguay survived.

Paraguay had an excellent chance to level the game when Lucas Barrios slid a ball to the back post for the run of Edgar Benitez, but Carlos Ascues made the intervention to divert the ball on to the post and wide.

La Blanquirroja had the opportunity to wrap the game up in the dying minutes when Carillo pounced on a mistake in the Paraguay backline and tried to feed Paolo Guerrero, but the striker could only fire his tame effort wide of the post.

However, Guerrero did secure the victory for his side in the 90th minute when he latched on to Joel Sanchez's through-ball and he maintained his composure to slot it past Villar.