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Scorers: 18’ Carrillo, 50’ Guerrero
For large parts of the game, it felt like Peru were the stakeholders in their final group stage tie against Australia. The Socceroos came into the game knowing that a win would keep their slim chances of progress open as long as the French did them a favour by beating Denmark. But that theory was thrown out of the basket as early as the 18th minute.
As the game panned out there were outstanding moments of quality. Both sides ended their World Cup campaign in Sochi and there were enough moments in the game to keep the viewers entertained.
The World Cup will surely miss Peru and the atmosphere that Peruvian fans brought to this tournament. Nevertheless, the show will go and both teams will leave the tournament with mixed emotions. Both teams can only build on from here and maybe what other teams can take from Peru is the joy they brought to this World Cup.
Let us now look at all the noteworthy points from this game.
#1 Guerrero marks a remarkable comeback
In the run-up to the tournament, Paolo Guerrero’s involvement in the tournament was an uncertainty. The 34-year-old was given a 14-month ban having tested positive for a cocaine by-product contained in a tea. And it was only a few weeks before the start of the tournament that a tribunal overturned the ban thus allowing him to play for Peru.
The tribunal reached its decision after the captains of Peru’s Group C rivals consisting of Australia, Denmark, and France wrote to FIFA asking them to lift the ban. And the captain showed his presence in the game, as he provided the assist for the first goal while scoring the second one.
Having promised a big hug to the Australian captain, Mile Jedinak, before the game, the Aussies would have hoped Guerrero to be in a more forgiving mood, but that was not to be as he showed his poacher’s instinct with a crisp finish across Matt Ryan in the Australian goal.
Although Australia appealed for offside in the build-up to the first goal, the flag stayed down and an early lead helped Peru dictate the play. Peru's captain was at the heart of it, harrying the Australian defence and looking to make a pass forward every time he was on the ball.
#2 Australia’s lack of finishing costs them dearly
Coming into this game Australia had scored two goals in two games, both of them coming from penalties from their captain, Mile Jedinak. And here was again at the heart of another Australian goal. Unfortunately, he was facing his own goal this time as the ball ricochet off him to fall in the path of Peruvian striker, Guerrero.
Scoring goals have been an Achilles heel for the team from Down Under and in this game, most of their attacking threat came from Tomas Rogic, the attacking midfielder who sizzled in the first-half as he created a host of chances. The first was when he took it upon himself to dazzle past the defence only to be denied by the Peruvian keeper, Pedro Gallese.
The Group C standings are an accurate reflection of the standards between the teams and Australia will leave the tournament with much to improve. That said, the Aussies within their limited capacities would have hoped for a better run.
The Australians have played some imaginative football throughout the tournament but have sorely lacked a goal scorer and the difference between the sides was laid bare moments after the restart of play in the second half.
#3 A finely tuned Carrillo was one to watch out for
As the cross came in off the boot of Guerrero, Andre Carrillo who had made ground towards the right corner of the penalty area hit a perfect volley, firm and low. It was a perfect goal to cap off a move that was slick and quick to open the account for Peru in this World Cup.
Carrillo who has had a tremendous tournament will probably be on the radar of top clubs, and here he performed like a star-in-waiting. Andre Carrillo's goal was the first for Peru in a World Cup finals since Guillermo La Rosa scored in the 1-5 defeat to Poland in 1982 and it was from their 28th shot in the tournament.
The Peruvian deservedly got the man of the match award and the 40,000 travelling Peruvian fans at Sochi deservedly gave him the standing ovation as he was substituted in the 78th minute. On the evidence of this form, Watford fans will hope that Carrillo extends his stay at Vicarage Road.
#4 No wonder goal from Cahill
It was probably the last time, that Tim Cahill represented Australia at the World Cup. The 38-year-old who had not featured in the first two games was the last throw of the dice for Australian coach, Bert van Marwijk.
Had he scored he would have become the fifth man in World Cup history to score in four World Cups after Brazil's Pele, German duo Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose, and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. But there was no fairytale this time as he failed to connect with an inviting cross from Aziz Behich.
Their failure to keep a clean-sheet in any of their 3 matches extended it to 13 matches since the 2006 World Cup. Despite the effort, Australia tired as the game progressed and with their exit confirmed they attained another unenviable statistic of failing to win a match at a World Cup tournament for the third time in their five participations. In fact, this was the second consecutive tournament that they failed to win.
#5 Ricardo Gareca gives Peruvian fans reasons for celebration
The Peru manager described the feeling as joyful having seen his side coast to a victory. The coach explained the challenges of keeping the players positive having failed to win their first two games. He went on to compliment the Australians who he said caused physical problems for his team.
But it was the support of the fans that helped his players put in such an effort that gave him reasons to smile. Peru’s quick start meant that they were on their way to their first victory since a 4-1 win over Iran in 1978 - 14,625 days ago.
Despite the fact that they had no chance of progressing they took the game to their opponents and overwhelmed them. Like the Danes in their opening game, it took the Aussies a while to get a grip on the game and things may have been different had they opened the scoring.
What was your favourite moment from Peru's World Cup campaign? Tell us in the comments below!
