Peru beat Venezuela 3-1 at Copa America

Defending champion Colombia beat Bolivia 1-0 on a late goal by reserve forward Edixon Perea and became the first team to reach the Copa America quarterfinals Friday.

Perea scored on a looping header in the 89th minute of a mainly dull Group A game. The ball sneaked over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Leonardo Fernandez.

Host Peru beat Venezuela 3-1 in the late match at Nacional Stadium.

Colombia showed little of the attacking flair it displayed in its opening 1-0 win over Venezuela.

Bolivia, which tied with Peru in its opener, also played cautiously, and scoring opportunities were scarce as the teams settled into a match fought predominantly in the midfield.

Nolberto Solano scored a goal and set up another for Peru against short-handed Venezuela. Solano connected in the 62nd minute and used a free kick 10 minutes later to find Santiago Acasiete, who scored on a header.

Jefferson Farfan put Peru ahead 1-0 in the first half with an arching shot after goalkeeper Gilberto Angelucci came off his line and missed the ball.

Massimo Margiotta scored the lone goal for Venezuela in the 74th minute.

The Venezuelans were reduced to 10 men in the 66th when Miguel Mea was red-carded for a rough tackle on Roberto Palacios.

The win gave Peru four points and second place in Group A after two games. Colombia leads the group with six points. Bolivia is third with one point, and Venezulela trails with none.

Source: China Daily