Copa America 2020 Group A: Guatemala Group Tighter than Ever after Win over Peru

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Group A Tighter than Ever after Guatemala Win over Peru

June 23, 2020

Peru 1 Guatemala 2

 

Guatemala is one point off top spot after defeating Peru in their second Copa America 2020 match.

 

Jefferson Farfán started at right midfield in place of Christian Cueva for Peru. Guatemala swapped out Edi Guerra for Luis Martínez.

 

Peru, off the back of a comeback draw, needed to defeat Guatemala by a solid margin. However, in the fifteenth minute, Guatemala earned a penalty after holding Peru with a compact defence, and Jorge Vargas ensured the Central Americans had the lead.

 

Peru sought an equaliser, and it came twelve minutes later when Renato Tapia headed off a corner kick into the top left corner of the goal.

 

Luis Advincula then set up Paolo Guerrero for the ultimate header, only for the striker to hit the woodwork as he tried to header back across goal.

 

After the break, Guatemala used their possession to wear down Peru, and though they could not find a way to go, it took until the 73rd minute for substitute Jorge Aparicio to cut back into the box and, unopposed, fire into the bottom right-hand corner.

 

Guatemala had the first three points in their sights, and it was up to Peru to work out a process to come back from this. However, Luis Martínez had other ideas, and his shot needed a timely save.

 

Vargas then had an attempt before he was substituted, but it was Yoshimar Yúton who came closest with his header off a corner for Peru. However, Guatemala held firm for the final few minutes, even when Peruvian Andre Carrillo had a shot, only for the Guatemalan defence, including Player of the Match Moises Hernández, to block and then clear the ball to relative safety.

 

Group A is now wide open for anyone to win and will be intriguing to see who progresses.

 

	Group A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Mexico	2	1	1	0	4	+5
2	Colombia	2	1	0	1	3	-2
3	Guatemala	2	1	0	1	3	-2
4	Peru	2	0	1	1	1	-1