Australia eliminated, Peru leaves World Cup on high note

Peru’s Paolo Guerrero, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the group C match between Australia and Peru, at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, June 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

SOCHI, Russia — Back at the World Cup for the first time since 1982, Peru isn’t leaving Russia empty handed.

The Peruvians failed to score a goal in their opening two matches, but the team finally gave its fans a reason to celebrate when it ended Australia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout round with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday.

The Australians had to beat Peru and hope Denmark lost to France in the other Group C match, but neither result occurred. France and Denmark drew 0-0 in Moscow.

Andre Carrillo’s 18th-minute goal — a half-volley from inside the area — was Peru’s first in a World Cup since its last appearance 36 years ago. Peru hadn’t won a World Cup match since defeating Iran in 1978.

“I need to thank the players for their great effort, and the fans, who were incredible and supported us all the way,” Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said. “At least we were able to give them a triumph, that’s the most important thing.”

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero, who almost missed the tournament because of a doping suspension, scored the other goal in the 50th with a left-footed strike after getting to a loose ball inside the area.

“This triumph is for our people and for Jefferson (Farfan),” Guerrero said of his teammate who missed the match after being hospitalized with a head injury sustained in practice last weekend. “We showed that Peru can play as equal to anyone.”

Australia striker Tim Cahill, a 38-year-old veteran who entered the match in the 53rd minute, had a chance to become only the fifth player to score in four World Cups, joining Pele, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo. But he had few chances.

Australia needed the victory to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2006 but it had a slow start at Fisht Stadium, unable to get near the opposing area. The Peruvians, boosted by a loud crowd that heavily outnumbered the Aussies, took advantage of their chances and gave their team an honorable finish after two opening losses.

The whole squad saluted the boisterous Peruvian fans after the match, spending several moments near their sections in the stands.

Australia’s best chance to score came in the 27th minute when Tom Rogic made a run through the Peru defense and had his shot saved by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Peru almost added its third goal when Edison Flores’ shot hit the post following a fast breakaway.

GROUP DYNAMICS

The victory allowed Peru to move into third place in the group, finishing with four points. The Australians ended up with one point after losing 2-1 to France and drawing 1-1 with Denmark.

“We went in with greater expectations, but if we look at how we played, I think that Peru emerges from the World Cup with its head high,” Gareca said.

KEY TO SUCCESS

Australia leaves consoled by decent performances even though it didn’t get the points to show for it. It played relatively well in the opener against the French and had chances to get more than a draw against Denmark.

“I think in all three of the games, we gave a good performance,” Australia coach Bert van Marwijk said. “This team has really improved from the day I started working with them, and we became better and better and only at the World Cup you could see that for this team, it’s difficult to make the difference in goals at this level.”

Peru had deserved more in its first two games, when it failed to capitalize on numerous scoring chances, including a missed penalty by Christian Cueva against Denmark.

“We were effective this time. What we couldn’t do in the other (matches), we were able to do it today,” Gareca said.

BREAKING THROUGH

It had been a long time before Peru had found the net in a World Cup. The last time was in its second match of the 1982 tournament, a 1-1 draw against Italy.

The team also scored in a 5-1 loss to Poland that year. It’s last World Cup victory was a 4-1 result against Iran in the first round of the 1978 tournament in Argentina.

NO ATTACK

Scoring hasn’t been easy for Australia at World Cups recently, with its last three goals in the tournament coming from penalty kicks, including two from captain Mile Jedinak in Russia.

Australia is only the second team in World Cup history to score three consecutive goals from the penalty spot. Ghana did it from 2006-2010.