Photo Credit: Seleccion Peru/ Twitter
Los Angeles, CA | September 10 | Kelly Landaverde – @Kel_landaverde
32,287 fans showed up to Tuesdays rematch clash. As opposed to last week’s rivalry game where less than 10,000 fans attended the game. During the 1st half both teams showcased an intense soccer match. After that rivalry in Copa America both teams go hard when they play against each other. From dribbling, stealing balls, and passes.
The Peruvians became giants after the World Cup in Russia and Copa America where they took second place after Brazil where crowned champions at the famous Maracanã. In both tournaments they demonstrated that they in fact play with lots of passion and love for their flag and jersey. Peru didn’t let them play their “jogo bonito” during this game and tried anything to go up in the scoreboard but couldn’t capitalize until the second half. They were in fact the locals at the renovated memorial coliseum with a huge crowd of Brazilians and Brazilian fans from other countries.
Photo Credit: Seleccion Peru/ Twitter
During the 26th minute fans started chanting “Brazil”. Eight minutes later Casemiro had an accident in the air, he hit himself in the head with another of his teammates and starting bleeding. He continued playing and was given a hat to stop the bleeding. On the other hand two minutes before the game was over the goalkeeper Pedro Gallese dressed up as Superman and flew to save his team stopping Richarlison’s asteroid. The first half ended and both teams left leveled with tons of actions but no goals.
Photo Credit: Seleccion Peru/ Twitter
During the second half Peru kept pressuring, and defending with Luis Advincula as his star defender. The Star of the night who was initially in the bench at first went in the 63rd minute “Neymar”. Brazil in fact had more clear opportunities after he came in but wasn’t able to capitalize them after great goalkeeping and defense interventions. Peru was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and that changed the momentum of the game. Yoshimar Yotun sent a great ball to the dangerous area, and Luis Abram capitalized the great opportunity with a stupendous header in the 85th minute of play. The pupils of Argentinian Ricardo Gareca won the game after not being the favorites tonight. Gareca became the first head coach in Peru to beat the “Canarinha”.
At the end of the game Gareca, Gallese and Dani Alves shared their thoughts on the friendly with the media. We would like to continue to improve,” Peru head coach Ricardo Gareca said and added, “It’s important for us to play those teams.” “We have to learn about the defeat with Ecuador and also learn about this victory with Brazil, and we must keep working, it was a tough victory but we got to keep working, ” Gallese said . “It was a tough game, and we knew that it wasn’t going to be a friendly at all , ” Dani Alves said.
