Peru celebrated a crucial victory in their quest for a World Cup berth, edging out Uruguay 1-0 in a hard-fought South American qualifier. The triumph marked Peru’s first win in the competition, offering a much-needed boost after a string of disappointing results.
The match unfolded in a tense atmosphere at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, with both sides eager for a win. Uruguay, led by the experienced coach Marcelo Bielsa, dominated possession in the early stages, creating several promising opportunities. Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and Maximiliano Araújo all came close to breaking the deadlock, but were thwarted by the impressive Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
The tide began to turn in the second half, as Peru gained control of the midfield and pressed forward with greater purpose. The breakthrough came in the 88th minute, when Miguel Araujo rose highest to head home a corner kick, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Uruguay’s frustration grew as the match went on, and despite their dominance in possession, they struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half. Bielsa acknowledged the team’s shortcomings after the match, stating, “I honestly feel responsible, due to the players we had in the midfield and in the offense, for such a small proportion of goal chances we created in the second half.”
The victory propels Peru out of last place in the South American standings, giving them a crucial six points. Uruguay, meanwhile, remain in third place with 15 points, four points behind leaders Argentina and one point behind second-placed Colombia.
The top six teams in the South American qualifying table will earn a place in the next World Cup, scheduled for 2026 in North America. Peru will face a tough challenge in their next match against fourth-place Brazil, while Uruguay host Ecuador on the same day.
