Peru and Venezuela met in their Copa America Group C clash on Thursday in Valpariso.
Ricardo Gareca's men needed a victory to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the competition alive, while a win for Los Llaneros would put them on the brink of advancing in the tournament.
Peru get their first points of the tournament as Claudio Pizarro scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute to fire his team to victory, as Gareca's side benefitted from the sending off of Venezuela left-back Fernando Amorebieta in the first half.
Read how all the action unfolded below.
12amGood evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Copa America clash between Peru and Venezuela.
12.01amPeru will be determined to get off the mark in the competition following their last-gasp defeat to Brazil in their opener. Ricardo Gareca's men took the lead in the match through Christian Cueva, but Neymar soon levelled the scores, and they looked set to secure a point before Douglas Costa struck at the death.
12.03amGareca's men are under pressure to get a result this evening to keep themsevles with a chance to qualifying for the knockout rounds. However, Group C is still wide open following Colombia's win over Brazil yesterday.
12.05amVenezuela produced one of the shocks of the tournament so far as they defeated Colombia 1-0 in their first match of the tournament. Salomon Rondon scored the only goal of the match to fire his side to victory to give Los Llaneros a real chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.
12.08amA victory this evening for Noel Sanvicente's may be enough to fire them into the knockout stages, although Colombia's victory over Brazil means that three teams in Group C all currently have three points. So there is still work for Venezula to do to secure a place in the next round.
12.11amThe team news has been announced and we'll start with the Peru lineup.
12.13amPERU STARTING XI: Gallese, Zambrano, Advincula, Ballon, Labaton, Cueva, Vargas, Sanchez, Ascues, Guerrero, Pizarro
Subs: Cespedes, Riojas, Requena, Hurtado, Farfan, Reyna, Penny, Retamoso, Ramos, Carrillo, Yuton, Libman
Subs: Cespedes, Riojas, Requena, Hurtado, Farfan, Reyna, Penny, Retamoso, Ramos, Carrillo, Yuton, Libman
12.15amVENEZUELA STARTING XI: Baroja, Amorebieta, Vizcarrondo, Rosales, Tunez, Arango, Guerra, Rincon, Seijas, Vargas, Rondon
Subs: Angel, Cichero, Fedor, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Lucena, Martinez, Acosta, Perozo, Rivas, Murillo, Faninez
Subs: Angel, Cichero, Fedor, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Lucena, Martinez, Acosta, Perozo, Rivas, Murillo, Faninez
12.17amPeru have made one change from their defeat to Brazil as Jefferson Farfan drops out of the starting lineup and is replaced by Claudio Pizarro. Meanwhile, unsurprinsingly Venezuela remain unchanged from their victory over Colombia as Rondon continues to lead the line attack this evening.
12.21amThe teams last met earlier this year and Venezuela recorded a 1-0 victory over Peru thanks to a strike from Josef Martinez. Los Llaneros also recorded a 3-2 victory in their last World Cup qualifier in September 2013, although over the course of history Peru have fared better in the fixture winning 18 matches compared to Venezuela's eight, while three of the matches have ended in draws.
12.25amThe sides are making their way out onto the pitch, so we should be underway very shortly.
1 minKICKOFF! We're underway in this Copa America clash.
2 minEarly attack down the right for Venezuela as Arango tries to release the run of Ronald Vargas down the right flank, but his namesake from Peru Juan Vargas manages to get across him and successfully guides the ball out for a goal kick.
4 minJoel Sanchez tries to make a surging run through the middle of the Venezuela defence, but he is stopped in his tracks by a good tackle from Tunez. Neither side have been able to threaten the goal in the early stages of the match.
7 minCHANCE! Rondon has a huge opportunity for Venezuela as Guerra lifts the ball into the middle of the box to pick out his run towards goal. The ball is perfect for the striker, but he cannot make enough contact to guide it past Gallese, who is able to claim to make the save. Huge chance spurned for Sanvicente's men.
9 minVenezuela play some nice football down the right and Ronald Vargas and Rosales exchange passes, and the former tries to release the run of the full-back inside the box with a lofted ball, but Zambrano is alert to the danger and makes the interception before clearing downfield.
10 minGareca's men hit on the counterattack and Guerrero has the chance to fire a shot at goal from the edge of the box. He decides against shooting and decides to take on Seijas with a run inside the area, but the defender makes an excellent challenge to disposses the forward to quell the attack.
13 minA long ball comes forward from the back for Peru and Sanchez manages to take the ball in stride towards the box. He is brought down inside the area by Tunez, but the defender appears to win the ball and the referee is unmoved. To be fair to the midfielder, he got up very quickly and made nothing of the challenge.
15 minRonald Vargas almost unlocks the Peru defence as he latches onto a ball over the top and then takes a neat touch inside to beat the challenge of Lobaton. He then tries to pick out the run of Guerra in the inside left channel, but the midfielder cannot control the ball as he beared down on goal and it travels out for a goal kick.
17 minVenezuela continue to put Peru under pressure as Rincon raids down the right flank and whips a cross to the back post looking for the run of Guerra, but Advincula keeps a cool head to nod the ball back to Gallese.
20 minGareca's men have been second best in the opening 20 minutes of this match. They are trying to get their passing game going by working the ball around at the back, but they are yet to click into gear.
22 minAmorbieta advances down the left and whips a cross to the back post for Rincon, but Gallese comes off his line to knock the ball away from the forward and Juan Vargas is there to react first before his namesake Ronald to hammer the ball clear.
24 minZambrano comes to the rescue for Peru as Guerra is allowed space and time to deliver a ball in from the left and Ronald Vargas is lurking at the back post. However, Zambrano is on hand to make an excellent clearing header to alleviate the danger on his side's box.
26 minA ball down the left from Juan Vargas finds its way into the path of Cueva inside the box and the midfielder shapes to shoot at goal, but Tunez manages to get a foot on the ball just as he is about to shoot to divert it behind for a corner.
27 minCHANCE! Rondon plays a sublime through ball looking for the run of Guerra who races beyond the Peru defence. However, his touch is poor as he bears down on goal and Gallese is able to gather just inside his penalty area. Guerra lost his composure at the vital moment there.
29 minRED CARD! Venezuela are down to 10 men after Amorebieta is given a straight red card for stamping on Guerrero after the winger had beaten him on the right win. The defender first pulled the shirt of Guerrero to bring him down and then stamped on him as he tried to leap over his legs. It may have been unintentional, but he could have avoided contact and the referee was right on the spot and has decided that the Fulham man has to go. A real game changer.
32 minPeru look to take immediate advantage of the sending off as Guerrero sprints down the flank and fires a low cross into the box which is diverted behind for a corner. From the resulting cross, Pizarro rises highest in the area, but his header is tame and lands into the hands of Baroja.
35 minYELLOW CARDS! Lobaton goes into the book as he brings down Guerra as the midfielder tries to break upfield. Ballon is also yellow-carded for a poor tackle on Rincon.
37 minSUBSTITUION: Venezuela are forced into a change because of the sending off as Cichero comes on to the pitch to replace Ronald Vargas to move to left-back. It's surprising Sanvicente has taken off Vargas as he had been very bright in the opening 35 minutes of the match.
41 minCHANCE! A chance to threaten for Peru as Cueva lifts a cross into the box which is not cleared by Tunez and Pizarro plays the ball into the path of Guerrero. The striker takes a touch and then fires a low strike, but his shot lacks accuracy as it sails wide without troubling Baroja.
43 minPeru are still lacking quality in the final third as a cross from Sanchez is headed into the path of Lobaton on the edge of the box, and he takes on a first-time volley, but his strike sails well over the crossbar.
44 minGareca's side earn a chance to threaten Baroja's goal as Lobaton is brought down by Guerra around 25 yards from the net. However, the attempt from Pizarro is poor as his strike hits the wall and the Advincula's cross into the box sails behind for a goal kick.
45 minThere will be one minute of added time.
45 + 1 minHALF-TIME: Peru 0-0 Venezuela
1.22amVenezuela were the better team for the majority of the first half, although the game changed when Fernando Amorebieta was dismissed for stamping on the leg of Pablo Guerrero. The sending off looked harsh at the time and on reflection it did look unintentional, which is extremely unfortunate for Sanvincente's men and the defender.
1.25amPeru have been underwhelming in the first 45 minutes as they have struggled immensely to carve out any clear-cut opportunities. Even in the brief time Venezuela were reduced to 10 men Gareca's men could not find an opening, so they will have to work a lot harder in the second half to have any chance of pulling off a win this evening.
1.32amThe players are out on the pitch so we should be back underway shortly.
46 minRESTART: We're back underway in this Group C clash.
46 minSUBSTITUTION: Quick note that Peru made a change at the break as Lobaton was replaced by Reyna.
47 minCHANCE! Peru come out of the blocks the quickest after the break as Juan Vargas has space and time to whip in a cross from the left and Pizarro gets above Tunez to head at goal, but his effort goes wide of the post.
49 minCHANCE! Better from Peru as they carve out a chance from a corner as the ball is whipped in from the left and Guerrero leaps highest to head at goal. His header loops dangerously towards the far corner and has Baroja scrambling across his line, but the ball lands on the roof of the net. Close from the forward and a much better start from Gareca's side.
50 minVenezuela almost catch Peru on the counterattack as Rondon surges between Zambrano and Advincula, but the right-back comes in with a challenge from behind that needs to be perfect to avoid a penalty and it is as he knocks the ball behind for a corner. Great defending from Advincula.
52 minAdvincula gets his challenge wrong this time as he brings down Rondon and free kick is awarded to Venezuela. Guerra lifts a dangerous ball into the box, and only a touch is needed to guide it past Gallese, but the keeper watches the ball all the way and is able to claim it with relative ease.
55 minAn end-to-end game at the moment as Advincula surges down the right flank and fires a low ball into the box, which is picked up by Reyna, who tries to lift the ball into the far corner, but his effort goes over the bar without troubling Baroja.
59 minGuerrero latches onto a loose ball outside the box and has space and time to fire an effort at goal, but he loses his composure and can only fire his effort over the crossbar.
61 minAdvincula continues to have the freedom of the right flank as he raids down the wing and fires a low ball across the face of goal that only needs a touch on it to beat Baroja, but no white shirt is there to turn it in. The ball comes to the edge of the box for Vargas, who tees up Reyna, but his strike is blocked by Vizcarrondo and Venezuela somehow hack it away.
62 minCHANCE! Rondon immediately raids upfield on the counterattack and slides the ball to Arango who takes time to line up a strike, but then slides the ball into the path of Guerra inside the box. The midfielder shoots first time, but his shot is deflected behind for a corner by Ascues.
65 minThe game has come to life in the second half as both teams have had decent chances to open the scoring. Rondon has done an impressive job leading the line by himself to give Venezuela a threat on the break, while Advincula's raids down the right have caused Sanvicente's men all sorts of problems. The first goal will be crucial in this match.
66 minAnother cross comes into the Venezuela box from the right and it's cleared once more, but only into the path of Vargas, who shoots a first-time volley at goal only to see his effort sail narrowly past the post.
69 minYELLOW CARD! Guerrero becomes the third Peru player to enter the book this evening for a foul on Cichero.
72 minGOAL! Peru 1-0 Venezuela (Pizarro)
72 minPeru take the lead as a through-ball from Cueva finds its way into the feet of Pizarro and from close range the striker holds his composure to fire an effort past Baroja. The ball looked to have taken a deflection to work its way into the path of Pizarro, and that slice of luck has broken Venezuela's defensive line, which had looked inpenetrable this evening.
73 minSUBSTITUTION: Martinez comes on for Venezuela to replace Arango in an attacking move by Sanvicente.
75 minPeru push for a second goal to kill off the game as Advincula slides a pass into the feet of Guerrero in the inside right channel. The forward is under pressure from two defenders, but still manages to fire a low ball across the face of goal, but Baroja is there to gather bravely at his near post.
78 minPeru are controlling the game at the moment as Venezuela are unable to win the ball back. Gareca's men are using their numerical advantage to great effect to stretch the pitch and tire out the legs of the already-jaded Los Llaneros team.
81 minRondon gets behind Advincula down the left and bears down on goal, but the full-back has the pace to get back at the forward to knock the ball behind for a corner. The referee spots a shove on Advincula and awards a free kick to Peru to alleviate the brief moment of danger.
83 minSUBSTITUTION: A change for Peru as Hurtado replaces Cueva.
86 minRondon receives the ball down the right and has support for a change as three of his teammates surge into the box. However, his delivery from the right is poor and his cross sails harmlessly into the hands of Gallese.
88 minYELLOW CARD! Frustration is creeping into the game of Venezuela as Cichero is booked for a poor challenge on Hurtado.
90 minSUBSTITUTION: The goalscorer Pizarro makes way in the dying minutes as he is replaced by Yotun.
90 minPeru have done an excellent job of taking the pace out of the game, and Venezuela have been reduced to sending hopeful balls forward from the back, which is not suiting their style of play. Time is running out for Sanvicente's men.
90 minThere will be four minutes of added time.
90 + 2 minLa Blanquirroja are keeping the ball deep in the Venezuelan half of the pitch as vital seconds tick away for Sanvicente's side to find an equaliser.
90 + 4 minFULL-TIME: Peru 1-0 Venezuela
2.26amPeru hold out to claim a vital win as Claudio Pizarro's strike decides the contest. Ricardo Gareca's men were on top throughout the second half, but were forced to wait until the 72nd minute until the 36-year-old struck from close range. They have now given themselves a real chance of earning a place in the knockout stage as all four teams in Group C currently have three points after two matches, so the sides know that their next match will essentially be an elimination game.
2.30amVenezuela may feel hard done by as Fernando Amorebieta's dismissal certainly changed the game as Noel Sanvicente's men were on top for the majority of the first half. They battled valiantly in the second half to keep Peru at bay, but were undone by a bit of luck as Christian Cueva's pass was deflected into the path of Pizarro who found the net. It was the only clear cut chance that Peru carved out, but they snatched it up. At the other end of the pitch, Venezuela may regret a couple of the opportunities they had, but Salomon Rondon was fighting a losing battle up front on his own in the second period, but still performed well. Despite, their defeat Venezuela should take a lot of confidence into their winner-take-all clash against Brazil in their last group game.
2.34amThanks for joining our live commentary this evening. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole for the rest of our coverage from the Copa America, but for now, it's goodbye.
