Peru, Ecuador into Copa America last eight

SAO PAULO – Peru defeated Venezuela 1-0 in the Copa America, sealing their place in the last eight.

The result means Peru qualify from Group B along with hosts Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, who held on for a 1-1 draw with group winners Brazil in the evening’s other game, Reuters reported.

Ecuador edged above Venezuela in the group by managing to claim a draw in the evening’s other game against regional giants Brazil, who failed to win for the first time in 11 games but still qualified top in the group for the quarter-finals.

Peru’s Andre Carrillo gave his team the lead after 48 minutes, firing high into the net from close range after a corner led to a goalmouth scramble at the empty Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia.

Venezuela could count themselves a tad unlucky as the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, including off a Venezuelan defender, before being swept into the net by Carrillo, who had also salvaged a draw in the previous game against Ecuador.

The win ended a run of drawn games between the two South American countries going back to another 1-0 Peru victory at the Copa America in 2015.

Brazil had already qualified in first place in Group B and rested a number of regulars, with Gabriel Barbosa, Everton, Douglas Luiz, Fabinho and Douglas Luis among those getting a chance from the start.

Lucas Paqueta was a bright presence in a team that missed Neymar’s creativity going forward but most of the replacements failed to impress even though Brazil went in 1-0 up at half time thanks to an accomplished header from defender Eder Militao.

Brazil had won their first three group games but were surprisingly pegged back for the first 15 minutes of the second period and substitute Angel Mena equalised for Ecuador with a thumping drive after 53 minutes.

It was not until Casemiro replaced Douglas Luiz after just an hour that Brazil regained their poise.

Nevertheless, neither side made many clear-cut chances and as a draw suited both teams the game petered out slightly.

“We knew it would be a difficult game,” said Paqueta.

“In the first half we managed to neutralise their style of play and pass the ball around and score, (but) in the second half they scored and that complicated the way we play. The objective was to win but the main objective was to finish in first place and we did that.”