Bolivia 1-3 Peru: Paolo Guerrero scores hat-trick to secure spot in Copa America last four and set up semi-final clash with hosts Chile

  • Peru advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America 2015 with victory over Bolivia in Temuco on Thursday night
  • Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero scored the opening goal after just 20 minutes when he headed home a cross
  • The 31-year-old centre forward added his second of the game three minutes later, finishing past Romel Quinonez
  • And Guerrero got his third of the night with 16 minutes remaining as he broke clear to settle the quarter-final tie
  • Former Wigan Athletic centre forward Marcelo Moreno pulled back a consolation goal from the penalty spot
  • Peru will now face Copa America hosts Chile in the first semi-final in Santiago on Monday, June 27

By Rik Sharma For Mailonline

Published: 20:22 EST, 25 June 2015 | Updated: 02:34 EST, 26 June 2015

They call him the Predator and here Paolo Guerrero remorselessly chewed up Bolivia like a lion roaming free in a field of hapless antelopes.

After 20 minutes he broke the deadlock when left unmarked in the box and just three minutes later the former Bayern Munich striker all but wrapped up the game.

He went on to finish off his hat-trick in the second half and set up a grudge match semi-final against neighbours Chile in the Copa America last four.

Paolo Guerrero was Peru's hero in the Copa America quarter-final victory over Bolivia as he netted a brilliant hat-trick to see them through

Paolo Guerrero was Peru's hero in the Copa America quarter-final victory over Bolivia as he netted a brilliant hat-trick to see them through

Guerrero's team-mates rush to congratulate him after he scored two goals in three minutes in the first half to put Peru in command

Guerrero's team-mates rush to congratulate him after he scored two goals in three minutes in the first half to put Peru in command

The former Bayern Munich striker displayed his cool finishing to slot in the final goal of his hat-trick late in the second half in Temuco

The former Bayern Munich striker displayed his cool finishing to slot in the final goal of his hat-trick late in the second half in Temuco

Former Wigan Athletic forward Marcelo Moreno scored a consolation with just minutes left on the clock but it was not enough for Bolivia

Former Wigan Athletic forward Marcelo Moreno scored a consolation with just minutes left on the clock but it was not enough for Bolivia

MATCH FACTS 

Bolivia (5-4-1): Quinonez 7; Hurtado 5 (Escobar 46 mins, 6), Zenteno 5.5, Coimbra 6, Raldes 6, Morales 6.5 (Lizio 46, 6); Chumacero 6, Danny Bejarano 4.5, Smedberg 5.5, Pena 6 (Pedriel 68 5.5); Martins 6. 

Subs not used: Bejarano, Campos, Eguino, Gamarra, Miranda, Penarrieta, Rodriguez, Suarez, Veizaga.

Goal: Moreno 84.

Booked: Bejarano, Escobar, Pedriel, Moreno.

Manager: Mauricio Soria.

Peru (4-4-2) Gallese 6; Advincula 7, Zambrano 7, Ascues 6.5, Vargas 8; Retamoso 6.5, Yotun 7, Farfán 8 (Hurtado 77), Cueva 8.5 (Reyna 82); Pizarro 7 (Carillo 66, 6), Guerrero 9.

Subs not used: Cespedes, Libman, Penny, Ramos, Requena, Riojas, Sanchez.

Goals: Guerrero 20, 23, 77.

Booked: Advincula, Gallese, Yotun, Reyna.

Manager: Ricardo Gareca.

Referee: Wilmar Roldan.

Man of the match: Paolo Guerrero.

The rivalry between the two, which started thanks to the war of the Pacific in the late 1800s extends as far as bickering over whose ownership of the national drink in both countries, Pisco - a grape brandy - is stronger, and whose version tastes nicer.

It will add spice to proceedings, a substance that was lacking here as Bolivia were sent packing by Ricardo Gareca's side with the minimum of fuss.

Bolivia had just one of their previous eight games against Peru in the Copa America, but that wasn't much of a surprise. They won for the first time in 20 years outside their own country in this edition of the tournament when they saw off Ecuador 3-2 in the group phase.

Despite earning their first win in 19 Copa games, they then suffered their heaviest defeat, being crushed 5-0 by hosts Chile ahead of this quarter-final clash in Temuco.

That beating did not stand them in good stead and they were under the cosh almost from the word go.

Peru were missing Josepmir Ballon and Carlos Lobaton from midfield through suspension, but it didn't affect them as replacements Yoshimar Yotun and Edwin Retamoso hit the ground running.

Jefferson Farfan, who impressed as a substitute against Colombia in the last round, was afforded a start and he made an immediate impact down the right, while Christian Cueva was even more influential on the other flank.

Former Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro went close after 17 minutes, angling a strike just wide of the upright.

But before Bolivia's hearts had gone back from their mouths to their chests, Guerrero had punctured their Copa America dreams.

The excellent Juan Vargas flew down the left and whipped a ball into the centre, where Guerrero had evaded the defenders and expertly steered a header home, past the dive of Romel Quinonez.

Bolivia blinked again, and it was two. Cueva curled a beautiful ball over the defence, which seemed to melt away, and Guerrero was on to it in a flash, steering it past Quinonez and into the bottom left corner. Too easy, two nil. 

Peru midfielder Edwin Retamozo knocks the ball between the legs of Bolivia forward Marcelo Martins during the game's opening minutes

Peru midfielder Edwin Retamozo knocks the ball between the legs of Bolivia forward Marcelo Martins during the game's opening minutes

Yoshimar Yotun flies in for a tackle on Bolivia's Martin Smedberg-Dalance as Peru seek to take the initiative from the off in Temuco

Yoshimar Yotun flies in for a tackle on Bolivia's Martin Smedberg-Dalance as Peru seek to take the initiative from the off in Temuco

And that initiative was rewarded with the opening goal when Guerrero climbed above Cristhian Coimbra to head in the opening goal

And that initiative was rewarded with the opening goal when Guerrero climbed above Cristhian Coimbra to head in the opening goal

Bolivia goalkeeper Romel Quinonez dives in vain to try and stop Guerrero's header as the Corinthians striker watches the ball sail in

Bolivia goalkeeper Romel Quinonez dives in vain to try and stop Guerrero's header as the Corinthians striker watches the ball sail in

Guerrero wheels away from the goalmouth to celebrate opening the scoring while team-mate Claudio Pizarro closes in to celebrate

Guerrero wheels away from the goalmouth to celebrate opening the scoring while team-mate Claudio Pizarro closes in to celebrate

Just three minutes late and Guerrero was doubling his and Peru's tally; latching on to a through ball to finish past keeper Quinonez

Just three minutes late and Guerrero was doubling his and Peru's tally; latching on to a through ball to finish past keeper Quinonez

Corinthians hitman Guerrero was in a confident mood, keeping his cool to take advantage of the goalkeeper's hesitation to score

Corinthians hitman Guerrero was in a confident mood, keeping his cool to take advantage of the goalkeeper's hesitation to score

Guerrero aims a gun salute to the skies as he runs over to the supporters inside the Estadio Municipal German Becker after making it 2-0

Guerrero aims a gun salute to the skies as he runs over to the supporters inside the Estadio Municipal German Becker after making it 2-0

REMAINING QUARTER-FINALS 

Sat, June 27, 00:30 - Argentina vs Colombia

Sat, June 27, 22:30 - Brazil vs Paraguay 

The game was finished, to all intents and purposes, but Bolivia never gave up, fighting and scrapping their way through the 90 minutes.

Danny Bejarano was in the referee's notebook after sliding through the back of Farfan, who nearly punished Bolivia moments later.

His strike from the right hit the bottom of the near post, while he also hit the crossbar with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

This wasn't the Schalke midfielder's night on a personal level, but the same can't be said for Guerrero. 

Peru captain Pizarro beats Bolivian pair Leonel Morales and Cristian Coimbra in the air as the victors' forward prowess proved valuable

Peru captain Pizarro beats Bolivian pair Leonel Morales and Cristian Coimbra in the air as the victors' forward prowess proved valuable

Guerrero leads another charge forward as striker partner Pizarro tries to make a move beyond the last men while Peru dominate

Guerrero leads another charge forward as striker partner Pizarro tries to make a move beyond the last men while Peru dominate

At the other end of the field the luck wasn't quite with Bolivia's gloved former Wigan Athletic striker Moreno as he looked to cut the deficit

At the other end of the field the luck wasn't quite with Bolivia's gloved former Wigan Athletic striker Moreno as he looked to cut the deficit

Peru's Edwin Retamozo fall on Bolivia's Leonel Morales as they fight for the ball in midfield as the game became more scrappy

Peru's Edwin Retamozo fall on Bolivia's Leonel Morales as they fight for the ball in midfield as the game became more scrappy

Christian Cueva slides in along the touchline as he attempts to rob the ball from Damian Lizio down the Bolivian right-hand side

Christian Cueva slides in along the touchline as he attempts to rob the ball from Damian Lizio down the Bolivian right-hand side

Bolivia head coach Mauricio Soria bellows out instructions to his players from the touchline but his efforts proved to be in vain

Bolivia head coach Mauricio Soria bellows out instructions to his players from the touchline but his efforts proved to be in vain

He finished top scorer at the last Copa America and has a strong chance to do so again here, having leapt to the top of the charts, level with Chile's Arturo Vidal on three goals.

Guerrero's third goal saw him find the net with another clinical finish, racing onto a terrible pass by Bejarano before delicately tucking the ball low to the onrushing goalkeeper's right.

Bolivia got a consolation goal at the end, to stop the rot - they had gone 10 goals against Peru without scoring - when Marcelo Martins struck from the penalty spot after Damian Lizio was tripped.

But this was Guerrero and Peru's night, and if they are to have any chance of beating the hosts in the semi-final they will need the Predator to be at his lethal best again on Monday.

Bolivia's Morales gets into a bit of a scrap with Peru star Retamozo on the turf, with the latter trying to pin his counterpart down

Bolivia's Morales gets into a bit of a scrap with Peru star Retamozo on the turf, with the latter trying to pin his counterpart down

Bolivia's Ricardo Pedriel went down under the challenge of Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese but did not win the penalty he hoped for

Bolivia's Ricardo Pedriel went down under the challenge of Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese but did not win the penalty he hoped for

Goalkeeper Quinonez is left helpless as Guerrero slots into his bottom left hand corner to put Peru out of sight with 16 minutes left

Goalkeeper Quinonez is left helpless as Guerrero slots into his bottom left hand corner to put Peru out of sight with 16 minutes left

Christian Cueva leaps on to his team-mate at the corner flag to congratulate him on his brilliant and decisive hat-trick in Temuco

Christian Cueva leaps on to his team-mate at the corner flag to congratulate him on his brilliant and decisive hat-trick in Temuco

Moreno grabs the ball to head back up the field after scoring the consolation but in truth he and Bolivia knew their time was up

Moreno grabs the ball to head back up the field after scoring the consolation but in truth he and Bolivia knew their time was up

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