Peru hammer Bolivia to reach Copa semis

TEMUCO, Chile: Brazilian-based striker Paolo Guerrero scored a hat trick as Peru swept aside Bolivia 3-1 to set up a Copa America semi-final showdown with fierce rivals Chile on Thursday.
Flamengo forward Guerrero, who has spent the past three years in Brazil after spells in Germany with Bayern Munich and Hamburg, pounced in the 20th and 23rd minutes to snuff out Bolivia’s campaign.
The 31-year-old completed his hat trick in the 74th minute, strolling clear of the Bolivian defense to finish nonchalantly. Marcelo Martins scored a late consolation from the penalty spot for Bolivia.
The result sets up the mouthwatering prospect of a semi-final next Monday between tournament hosts Chile and Peru, the latest installment of a ferocious footballing rivalry which began in 1935.
Matches between the two neighbors are known as the “Clasico del Pacifico,” laced with a historical enmity.
Peru will head into Monday’s showdown brimming with confidence after easing past Bolivia.
The match was effectively settled during a devastating three-minute spell midway through the first half when Peru’s superb counter-attacking unstitched the Bolivian defense.
Guerrero grabbed his first of the night in the 20th minute, timing his jump to head home past Bolivia goalkeeper Romel Quinonez after an exquisite cross from the left by Fiorentina midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas.
Three minutes later Guerrero made it 2-0 after a breathless breakout from Peru which had begun with a Bolivia free-kick on the edge of their opponents area.
Midfielder Christian Cueva was the architect, kicking a ball over the top of the Bolivian defense to send Guerrero bearing down on goal.
Quinonez hesitated fatally as he advanced off his line and Guerrero coolly tucked away a low finish to put Peru firmly in control.
Bolivia almost gave themselves a lifeline on 31 minutes but Martins was denied after a fine close-range reflex save by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Peru did not take long to get back onto the attack, and only the woodwork thwarted Jefferson Farfan when his thumping long-range effort cannoned back off the post on 37 minutes with Quinonez beaten.
Bolivia escaped again on the stroke of half-time when Farfan hit the woodwork again, crashing a shot off the bar.
Victory was sealed when Guerrero completed his hat-trick on 74 minutes.
Bolivia grabbed a late consolation through a Martins penalty after Ronald Raldes was brought down by Yordy Reyna but it was too little too late.
Meanwhile, players and coaches lined up to condemn Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara after he apparently attempted to shove his finger in an opponent’s backside during the stormy Copa America quarter-final win over Uruguay.
Jara was the subject of widespread revulsion on social media after photos and camera footage clearly showed him jabbing a finger into the back of Edinson Cavani’s shorts during Wednesday’s game, won 1-0 by Chile.
The lurid provocation ultimately led to Cavani being sent off after the Paris St-Germain flicked a retaliatory hand into Jara’s face.
Jara’s fate remained uncertain on Thursday, with South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL saying they would only lodge a disciplinary case against the Chilean if they received a formal complaint.
But players and coaches were unanimous in their disgust of the incident, with many expressing sympathy for Cavani, whose father was arrested earlier this week for his part in a fatal traffic accident.
“Particularly when you consider it was Cavani, and all the other problems he’s had this week, it was shameful,” Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said.
“There is absolutely no justification for it whatsoever. And on top of all that, Cavani barely touched him,” Martino added.
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman also decried Jara’s actions, saying the move had tarnished the image of the sport in front of a global audience.
“We all want to win and there is pressure on everyone to win, but the contest has to be noble,” the veteran Argentine-born coach said.
“Football is a sport that the whole world watches. There are certain rules that must be respected.”
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez could not hide his anger at the incident in the aftermath of Wednesday’s game, which saw his team finish with nine men.
“You can see what happened and what the challenge was. I refer you to the television and photos of it, it is all there,” said Tabarez.
“I can see that the referee has not seen it, but the linesman had to be able to see it from his position.”
Former Uruguay captain Diego Lugano had a menacing warning for Jara in a message on Twitter, while berating the performance of Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci.
“I’ll have to speak to that little Jara character when we bump into each other one day!” the former West Bromwich Albion defender said. “Sandro Ricci’s refereeing performance was a total, utter disgrace.”