LA PLATA, (Reuters) – Striker Paolo Guerrero scored a hat-trick as Peru crushed 10-man Venezuela 4-1 to take third place at the Copa America yesterday.
William Chiroque put Peru ahead from Guerrero’s pass three minutes before halftime and the striker nicknamed “Predator” rammed home the second on the right in the 64th. Venezuela, who had midfielder Tomas Rincon sent off on the hour for a dangerous tackle on Carlos Lobaton, pulled one back through Juan Arango in the 79th.
Guerrero then scored two fine breakaway goals in added time to become the tournament’s top scorer with five, two more than Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero.
Favourites Uruguay face Paraguay in today’s final at the Monumental in Buenos Aires (1900 GMT).
