The Flamengo striker scored twice in three first-half minutes to put his side within touching distance of the semi-finals early on, before completing his haul in the second half
Agencies
Santiago, June 26
Paolo Guerrero silenced his critics with a hat-trick as Peru overcame Bolivia 3-1 to set up a Copa America semi-final clash against hosts Chile.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca was forced to defend Guerrero’s goalscoring record pre-match, with the striker goalless in all three group games in Chile, leaving him with just two international goals since 2012.
Guerrero, however, proved his worth with his second Copa America hat-trick as Peru earned back-to-back semi-final appearances, having reached the final four in Argentina in 2011, and a showdown with Jorge Sampaoli’s impressive side.
Marcelo Martins Moreno pulled one back from the penalty spot late on but the result was already beyond doubt thanks to Guerrero’s heroics.
The Flamengo striker, who claimed a three-goal haul against Venezuela four years ago, scored two in three first-half minutes to put the game beyond Mauricio Soria’s men after just 23 minutes.
He completed his hat-trick and a memorable performance with 16 minutes remaining as he moved second on Peru’s all-time goalscoring charts with 24, alongside Teodoro Fernandez.
Bolivia – appearing in their first quarter-final since 1997 – made a host of changes to the team that lost 5-0 to Chile last week, with Edemir Rodriguez, Pablo Escobar, Ricardo Pedriel and Walter Veizaga dropping out for Edward Zenteno, Miguel Hurtado, Danny Bejarano and Alcides Pena.
Star forward Jefferson Farfan returned for Peru, while Victor Yotun and Edwin Retamoso were named in the starting XI at the expense of Josepmir Ballon and suspended captain Carlos Lobaton following last week’s goalless draw with Colombia.Bolivia came into the match as the lowest ranked nation remaining in the quarter-finals and they lived up to that tag as Peru gained a stranglehold on proceedings inside the opening 23 minutes.
Guerrero was the chief destroyer with a quick-fire brace, the first of his goals coming in the 20th minute after rising highest to head Juan Vargas’ cross past goalkeeper Romel Quinonez, albeit with some help from a deflection off Cristian Coimbra.
It got better three minutes later as Peru caught Bolivia on the counter, with Christian Cueva playing through Guerrero, who tucked the ball underneath Quinonez, who had lost his footing.
Bolivia slowly worked their way back into the contest and they almost pulled a goal back via Leonel Morales and his thunderous long-range strike, while Martins Moreno forced Pedro Gallese into a fine save.
Farfa then struck the outside of the post minutes and crashed a free-kick off rattle the crossbar as he looked to add a third before half-time.
Farfan was in the thick of the action in the second half, though a goal continued to elude the forward despite two good opportunities.
At the other end, appeals for a 69th-minute penalty were waved away by referee Wilmar Roldan, who was soon surrounded by furious Bolivia players. Ricardo Pedriel appeared to be taken down by Gallese en route to goal.
Bolivia’s woes were compounded five minutes later when Guerrero capitalised on Bejarano’s terrible pass across the defence as he drove through on goal unchallenged for his hat-trick.
The Bolivians salvaged some pride late in the match when Martins Moreno converted from the penalty spot after Damian Lizio had been felled by Luis Advincula.
Substitute Yordy Reyna went close to making it 4-1 late on but could not connect with a low cross, and the match ended amid scuffles between both sets of players, although nothing as serious as Wednesday’s clash between Chile and Uruguay.
