Australia 0 Peru 2: Aussies are heading home after Paolo Guerrero puts drugs hell behind him to seal Peru’s first win
Both sides will be jetting out of Russia as Australia blew any slim chance they had of making knockout stages
PUMMELLED by the poms at cricket, pipped in the rugger now sent packing by Peru.
It’s all gone billabong.
This proud sporting nation will be needing a few tinnies after all this.
As it was France failed to beat Denmark in the other group game so even a victory for the Socceroos in this wouldn’t have been enough to progress.
Not that they were too know that and they also had a bit of pride to play for.
In the end they leave bottom of the group with one point after scoring two goals, both from the penalty spot.
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The Peruvians can at least return home with their heads held high.
Their fans will celebrate the victory all night long.
It came courtesy of superb volleyed finish by Andre Carrillo who played on loan at Watford last season.
Then five minutes after the break Paolo Guerrero, who looked all set to miss the tournament with a cocaine ban, hooked in a second.
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Blimey, the noise in the Fisht Stadium when those two went in.
Guerrero claimed his failed drugs test was as a result of drinking contaminated tea in the lead-up to this summer's tournament.
After worldwide pressure and the support of players from all ends of the planet, Fifa relented, and the Peru captain was allowed to make his mark in Russia.
Peru have been at their first World Cup in 36 years but successive 1-0 defeats to France and Denmark had them already eliminated before this afternoon.
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However, you’d think they had just played Ally’s Army the way they have been singing and partying here in the build up - all 25,000 of them.
At last they had something to truly celebrate.
It was the 18th minute when Guerrero delivered a deep cross from the left and Carrillo angled his body to release a stunning low volley that arrowed into the far corner of the net.
The Aussies just couldn’t find a way through.
Tom Rogic came close to equalising for the Socceroos in the first half when he wriggled his was into the box but his final shot was well saved.
Then Australia put together a neat move that saw a fine through ball from Rogic release Robbie Kruse into the box on the left.
He fired a ball into the near post but Anderson Santamaria just got his toe on the ball before Matthew Leckie.
Peru extended their lead on 55 minutes when Christian Cueva drove into the box and his pass flicked up invitingly off Mile Jedinak’s heel for Guerrero to hook home.
After that they huffed and puffed in the heat of Sochi but Peru were not going to buckle.