Make it back to back semifinals appearances for Peru, who on Thursday knocked off Bolivia, 3-1, to advance to the final four of the 2015 Copa America.
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As was the case in 2011, when La Blanquirroja finished third, Paolo Guerrero continues to lead the way for Peru (five goals in 2011), as the new Flamengo man hit his second international hat trick (2011 third-place game vs. Venezuela) to move into a tie with Chile’s Arturo Vidal as the tournament’s top scorers.
Guerrero bagged his first of the game in the 20th minute with a powerful from the top of the six-yard box. Juan Vargas sent the cross in from the left wing, and Guerrero took care of it from there, beating his marker to the ball and headed home.PERU! PERU! A CROSS AND A FINISH! @paologuerrerog heads the ball in! #beINCopaAmerica http://t.co/u8WD9apgel
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) June 25, 2015
The score went from 1-0 to 2-0 barely two minutes later, when Guerrero got behind the Bolivian defense, latched onto the bouncing through ball from Christian Cueva, and fired his second of the game past Romel Quinonez. To ensure he would be taking the match ball home following the final whistle, Guerrero took matters into his own hands when he jumped a lazy pass across the backline, raced in one on one with Quinonez and slotted a well-placed shot inside the far post and completed his hat trick. With 74 minutes on the clock, the score was 3-0.
MAKE IT THREE!!! @PaoloGuerreroG earns his Hat trick! @TuFPF Are running away with this! #beINCopaAmerica http://t.co/b89MkoICHQ
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) June 26, 2015
Bolivia grabbed a consolation goal in the 84th minute, when Marcelo Moreno converted from the penalty spot.
Peru will face the tournament’s hosts, Chile, in the semifinals on Monday, when they’ll for a place in the final against one of Argentina, Colombia, Brazil or Paraguay.