Football: Peru clinch third again in Copa America with 2-0 win over Paraguay

Peru's Jose Reyna (left), Paolo Guerrero and Claudio Pizarro (right) pose with their medals after defeating Paraguay in their Copa America 2015 third-place soccer match. PHOTO: REUTERS

Concepcion (AFP/REUTERS) - Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero scored his fourth goal of the Copa America on Friday as Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 to finish in third place for the second consecutive edition of the tournament.

The Flamengo striker, top-scorer at the 2011 edition, has now scored seven of Peru's last 10 goals at the Copa America.

Guerrero swept home a right foot shot in the 89th minute to seal a deserved victory for Peru.

He also set up his side's opening goal in the 48th minute, heading down a Christian Cueva corner for midfielder Andre Carrillo to volley into the bottom corner past the dive of Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar.

Paraguay, thrashed 6-1 by Argentina in the semi-finals, raised their game fleetingly and almost snatched an equaliser on 68 minutes only for striker Edgar Benitez to be denied by a superb block from Peru midfielder Carlos Ascues.

The 31-year-old Guerrero's 25th international goal has also edged him closer to overhauling Peru legend Teofilo Cubillas's national record of 26 goals.

Guerrero scored a hat-trick against Bolivia in the quarter-finals and did the same against Venezuela in Peru's final match of the 2011 Copa, when Peru also finished third.

His four goals so far leaves him as joint top scorer in the tournament alongside Chile's Eduardo Vargas.

Hosts Chile face Argentina in Saturday's final (Sunday morning in Singapore), seeking their first title in the 99-year-history of the competition.

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