Haiti 0 Peru 1: Paolo Guerrero becomes Peru’s greatest goal scorer with Copa America winner
Flamenco forward who suffers from a severe fear of flying scored his 27th international goal with a diving header
COPA AMERICA goal machine Paolo Guerrero became Peru’s leading goal scorer with the winner in Peru’s narrow victory over competition minnows Haiti.
The striker finished joint-top scorer in last year’s tournament when he bagged four along with Chile star Eduardo Vargas.
And in the tournament previous to that, back in 2011, he took the Golden Boot home for himself after hitting five for his side.
The 32-year-old Flamengo striker needed just over an hour to score the decisive goal in his team’s first match of this centenary event, to give his side a smooth start in a tough Group B they will be desperate to emerge from.
The diving header settled a tense match with Haiti showing organisation and resilience in their first ever Copa America tournament after they beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 in a qualifier.
The minnows even threatened to take the lead first on 28 minutes when Mechak Jerome’s free-kick sneaked just over the bar after Alberto Rodriguez’s handball.
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That flashpoint livened Peru up and they responded with three good chances before the break.
Renato Tapia blasted a shot wide from 25 yards out and then Guerrero went close with volley of his own.
Guerrero then turned provider for what should have been the opener, the No9 control the ball on his chest and rolled it in the path of Edison Flores who rattled the post.
Haiti’s resistance could not withstand any more pressure after the break and their dedicated defence was finally breached.
Flores delivered a cross that the former Bayern Munich striker with a fear of flying dived through the air to convert.
Haiti, however, should have left the match with an undeserved point.
Late substitute Kervens Belfort beat the Peru defence from a free-kick but indefensibly headed wide when it looked easier to score.
Guerrero’s finish was his 27th international goal for Ricardo Gareca’s side and they will now aim to advance with Brazil.