Paolo Guerrero, the striker whose World Cup dreams were saved by Aussie skipper Mile Jedinak, saw them come true in Sochi.
Peru’s skipper was only competing in Russia at all because of an open letter written by other Group C captains that saw a controversial drugs ban lifted.
And when the chance presented itself, he made the most of it – claiming a decisive second 50th-minute goal for the south Americans who dumped the Socceroos out of the tournament.
The strike was greeted wildly by Peru’s supporters – there were an estimated 25,000 of them in the Fisht Stadium – and it was vindication for Guerrero who has fought a lengthy battle to clear his name.
The forward tested positive for cocaine last November. But he has always maintained that his crime was merely drinking coca tea.
He thought he had won the right to play in Peru’s first games at the World Cup for 36 years after a successful appeal only for the World Anti-Doping agency to reinstate the ban.
That led the captains of the other teams in Group C to pen a letter asking for it to be lifted. Fifa gave way.
But Guerrero’s strike – and a magnificent volley by Andre Carrillo – rounded off a miserable week for the Aussies.
After a Test series to Ireland in the rugby union for the first time in 39 years, they also suffered a 5-0 defeat against England in the one-day cricket internationals.
And now this – going home with only two Mile Jedinak penalties and a point against Denmark to show for their efforts.
With Peru only playing one man up front, any service had to be accurate. That man was skipper Guerrero.
Miguel Trauco’s 50-yard punt upfield gave the veteran a chance. He took it.
He collected the ball on the left-hand side of the area and managed to turn and wait for reinforcements to arrive, spotting midfielder Carrillo galloping to join him down the right flank.
Peru’s captain weighted his pass perfectly. The midfielder, on loan at Watford last season, met it on the full, sending a volley across Mat Ryan and into the bottom corner.
The Socceroos rallied. Tom Rogic danced through a number of tackles before Pedro Gallese blocked his shot. Anderson Santamaria cleared in the nick of time as Matthew Leckie went to stab home.
But Peru looked dangerous on the break and fashioned an opening that effectively clinched the game for them.
Christian Cueva made tracks down the left and fed the ball into Guerrero. The pass took a deflection en-route to the 34-year-old and his shot too, on the half-turn, also hit Aziz Behich on the foot before bouncing past Ryan.
The Aussies piled forward. Manager Bert Van Marwijk finally gave former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill a chance. The fact that the 38-year-old has not been given much of a chance to shine has been a hot topic Down Under
The Dutchman’s side came close on a number of occasions but it was Peru who always looked more likely to add to the score, Edison Flores smacking a late breakaway against the foot of the post.
